Prokaryotic Gene Structure 3 Flashcards
horizontal gene transfer
how do bacteria replicate?
through process of asexual reproduction process called binary fission
what is DNase I ? (2)
+ what it acts on
- an endonuclease that nonspecifically cleaves DNA,
- acts on single & double stranded DNA, chromatin & RNA:DNA hybrids
what are the 3 types of horizontal gene transfer (lateral gene transfer)?
1. conjugation
2. transduction
3. transformation
how does HGT occur?
through mobile genetic elements (MGEs) (plasmids, transposons, viruses) that enter bacterial cell
what makes up the total genome?
bacterial genome + MGEs
what is the supergenome?
total number of genes available to bacterial community (large number of cells) via MGEs within same environment
what is metagenome?
the collection of supergenomes within the wider environment
what is conjugation?
donor bacterial cells transfers plasmid DNA to a recipient bacterial cell only when both cells are in physical contact through a specialised pilus (sex pilus)
what is transformation?
recipient bacterial cell takes up cell-free/naked DNA from the environment
what is transduction?
transfer of DNA from donor bacterial cell to recipient that is mediated by a bacteriophage
what are de novo mutations? (3)
- single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)
- insertions
- deletions (indels result in frameshift)
how do plasmids vary in size?
< 2000 bp to > 100 000 bp
what are the 2 forms of plasmids?
circular dsDNA (common)
linear dsDNA (rare)
what are the 6 types of plasmids? (12)
- fertility (F) plasmids (direct conjugation)
- resistance (R) plasmids (resistance to antibacterial agents)
- col plasmids **(for colicins, bacteriocins in pneumococcal defense)
- metabolic (degradative) plasmids (for metabolism of unusual molecules)
- virulence plasmids (pathogenicity to host bacterium)
- cryptic (no obvious phenotype)
what was the conclusion of lederberg & tatum’s experiment?
auxotrophic bacteria can be converted to prototrophs through gene transfer & recombination
what was the conclusion of davis’ experiment?
physical contact between 2 bacterial cells is required for conjugation