Concepts of Genetics (12th Edition)
12th Edition
ISBN: 9780134604718
Author: William S. Klug, Michael R. Cummings, Charlotte A. Spencer, Michael A. Palladino, Darrell Killian
Publisher: PEARSON
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Chapter 6, Problem 28ESP
Bacterial conjugation, mediated mainly by conjugative plasmids such as F, represents a potential health threat through the sharing of genes for pathogenicity or antibiotic resistance. Given that more than 400 different species of bacteria coinhabit a healthy human gut and more than 200 coinhabit human skin, Francisco Dionisio [(2002) Genetics 162:1525–1532] investigated the ability of plasmids to undergo between-species conjugal transfer. The following data are presented for various species of the enterobacterial genus Escherichia. The data are presented as “log base 10” values; for example, –2.0 would be equivalent to 10–2 as a rate of transfer. Assume that all differences between values presented are statistically significant.
- (a) What general conclusion(s) can be drawn from these data?
- (b) In what species is within-species transfer most likely? In what species pair is between-species transfer most likely?
- (c) What is the significance of these findings in terms of human health?
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Briefly discuss the following questions in 3 to 5 sentences.
What is horizontal gene transfer? What are the three mechanisms for this to occur in bacteria?
What are the components needed for the processes of transformation, conjugation, and transduction? How does each process occur? What genes are involved in each process?
How do generalized and specialized transduction differ? What is the end result of each?
What is recombination? What is the importance to bacteria & archaea?
What are the two types of recombination? What are the details of each type? What components are needed for each type?
A group of genetics students mix two auxotrophic strains of bacteria: one is leu+ trp+ his− met− and the other is leu− trp− his+ met+. After mixing the two strains, they plate the bacteria on minimal medium and observe a few prototrophic colonies (leu+ trp+ his+ met+). They assume that some gene transfer has taken place between the two strains. How can they determine whether the transfer of genes is due to conjugation, transduction, or transformation?
Bacterial conjugation has medical consequences. For example, certain plasmids contain genes that code for toxins. The causative agent of a deadly form of food poisoning, E. coli 0157, synthesizes a toxin that causes massive bloody diarrhea and kidney failure. This toxin is now believed to have originated in Shigella, another bacterium that causes dysentery. Similarly, the growing problem of antibiotic resistance is partly attributable to the spread of antibioticresistant genes among bacterial populations. Antibiotic resistance develops because antibiotics are overused in medical practice and in livestock feeds. Suggest a mechanism by which this extensive use promotes antibiotic resistance.
Chapter 6 Solutions
Concepts of Genetics (12th Edition)
Ch. 6 - When the interrupted mating technique was used...Ch. 6 - In a transformation experiment involving a...Ch. 6 - In complementation studies of the rII locus of...Ch. 6 - A 4-month-old infant had been running a moderate...Ch. 6 - Prob. 2CSCh. 6 - Prob. 3CSCh. 6 - Prob. 4CSCh. 6 - HOW DO WE KNOW? In this chapter, we have focused...Ch. 6 - Review the Chapter Concepts list on p. 123. Many...Ch. 6 - With respect to F+ and F bacterial matings, answer...
Ch. 6 - List all major differences between (a) the F+ F...Ch. 6 - Describe the basis for chromosome mapping in the...Ch. 6 - In general, when recombination experiments are...Ch. 6 - Why are the recombinants produced from an Hfr F...Ch. 6 - Describe the origin of F bacteria and merozygotes.Ch. 6 - In a transformation experiment, donor DNA was...Ch. 6 - Describe the role of heteroduplex formation during...Ch. 6 - Explain the observations that led Zinder and...Ch. 6 - Prob. 12PDQCh. 6 - Two theoretical genetic strains of a virus (abc...Ch. 6 - The bacteriophage genome consists of many genes...Ch. 6 - If a single bacteriophage infects one E. coli cell...Ch. 6 - A phage-infected bacterial culture was subjected...Ch. 6 - In recombination studies of the rII locus in phage...Ch. 6 - In an analysis of rII mutants, complementation...Ch. 6 - If further testing of the mutations in Problem 18...Ch. 6 - Using mutants 2 and 3 from Problem 19, following...Ch. 6 - During the analysis of seven rII mutations in...Ch. 6 - In studies of recombination between mutants 1 and...Ch. 6 - Prob. 23ESPCh. 6 - An Hfr strain is used to map three genes in an...Ch. 6 - A plaque assay is performed beginning with 1 mL of...Ch. 6 - In a cotransformation experiment, using various...Ch. 6 - For the experiment in Problem 26, another gene, g,...Ch. 6 - Bacterial conjugation, mediated mainly by...Ch. 6 - A study was conducted in an attempt to determine...
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Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, biology and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.Similar questions
- What is horizontal gene transfer? What are the three mechanisms for this to occur in bacteria? What are the components needed for the processes of transformation, conjugation, and transduction? How does each process occur? What genes are involved in each process? How do generalized and specialized transduction differ? What is the end result of each? What is recombination? What is the importance to bacteria & archaea? What are the two types of recombination? What are the details of each type? What components are needed for each type?arrow_forwardAssume that there are horizontal gene transfers between two completely different bacterial species. In one case it is a plasmid that is transmitted via conjugation, in the other case it is it is a part of the bacterial chromosome that is transferred via transformation. In which of the two cases is it likely that the transferred DNA will be present? left and can function in the recipient cells? Explain the biological background to your answerarrow_forwardFor bacteria living in a rapidly changing environment, would a population of bacteria capable of conjugation be more successful than one that could not undergo conjugation? Explain why. Include in your answer a description of the process of conjugation and its advantages over other mechanisms of DNA transfer between prokaryotic organisms.arrow_forward
- Why can transfer of DNA by conjugation cross genus lines, whereas transfer of DNA by natural transformation or phage transduction is usually limited to a few closely related organisms?arrow_forwardYou mix two auxotrophic strains of bacteria; one is leu+ trp+ his– met– and the other is leu– trp– his+ met+. After mixing the two strains, you plate the bacteria on minimal medium and observe a few prototrophic colonies (leu+ trp+ his+ met+). To determine whether gene transfer has occurred through conjugation, transformation, or transduction, you design an experiment in which you place filters between the two strains to see if gene transfer occurs. You set up three treatments:-Treatment A No filter, allowing contact between the bacterial strains-Treatment B Filter that blocks cells, but allows viruses and DNA through the filter-Treatment C Filter that blocks cells and viruses, but allows DNA through the filter When you check the results of your experiment, you find prototrophic colonies have occurred following treatments A and B, but not following treatment C. You conclude that gene transfer occurred through... Answer Choices Available: A) Conjugation B) Transformation C)…arrow_forwardAustin Taylor and Edward Adelberg isolated some new strains of Hfr cells that they then used to map several genes in Escherichia coli by using interrupted conjugation. In one experiment, the researchers mixed cells of Hfr strain AB‑312, which were xyl+ mtl+ mal+ met+ and sensitive to phage T6, with F− strain AB‑531, which was xyl− mtl− mal− met− and resistant to phage T6. The cells were allowed to undergo conjugation. At regular intervals, the researchers removed a sample of cells and interrupted conjugation by killing the Hfr cells with phage T6. The F− cells, which were resistant to phage T6, survived and were then tested for the presence of genes transferred from the Hfr strain. The results of this experiment are shown in the graph. On the basis of these data, give the order of the xyl, mtl, mal, and met genes on the bacterial chromosome and the minimum distances between them in minutes. The origin of transfer is represented by the red triangle. The distances between genes are not…arrow_forward
- Austin Taylor and Edward Adelberg isolated some new strains of Hfr cells that they then used to map several genes in E. coli by using interrupted conjugation . In one experiment, they mixed cells of Hfr strain AB-312, which were xyl+ mtl+ mal+ met+ and sensitive to phage T6, with F− strain AB-531, which was xyl− mtl− mal− met− and resistant to phage T6. The cells were allowed to undergo conjugation. At regular intervals, the researchers removed a sample of cells and interrupted conjugation by killing the Hfr cells with phage T6. The F− cells, which were resistant to phage T6, survivedand were then tested for the presence of genes transferred from the Hfr strain. The results of this experiment are shown in the accompanying graph. On the basis of these data, give the order of the xyl, mtl, mal, and met genes on the bacterial chromosome and indicate the minimum distances between them.arrow_forwardDescribe the mechanisms of horizontal gene transfer in bacteria, describing the manner in which the DNA can be transferred from one cell to another.Choose a disease or an organism that has a well-documented mechanism of resistance (such as methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus - MRSA or tuberculosis) and identify the gene or genes that confer resistance and the method of DNA transfer thought to contribute to its spread. This may be from one organism to another or may simply be passed down from mother to daughter cell due to environmental pressure.arrow_forwardQ. The diagram is given below shows conjugation between F + or Hfr donor cells with F-recipient cells. On the basis of this diagram, answer the following questions.1. How you will differentiate between an F + and an Hfr strain? 2. Among two strains, which type of strain do you expect to transfer bacterial genes to F-cells? 3. What may be the end status of both donor and recipient cells of F plasmid-mediated conjugation? 4. What may be the end result when Hfr conjugates with F- cell?arrow_forward
- In Hershey-Chase experiment, bacteriophages protein coats were tagged with radioactive isotope S-32. These phages were used to infect E. coli cells and the cells were further centrifuged to form pellets. Why was the radioactivity level of S-32 found greater outside the cells compared to the E. coli cell pellets? Explain briefly. If the experiment is repeated in the same manner but this time the phage protein coats are labelled with isotope X and the phage DNA with isotope Y, which isotope’s radioactivity will be found in greater amounts in the E. coli cell pellets after centrifugation? Explain briefly.arrow_forwardWhich of the following statements regarding transduction is FALSE? A) transduction reduces genetic variation within bacterial populations B) the inadvertent packaging of bacterial DNA into a phage particle can lead to generalized transduction C) specialized transduction can only be facilitated by a phage capable of integration into the bacterial genome D) generalized transduction involves the transfer of DNA that is exclusively bacterial E) specialized transduction must be preceded by viral integration and imperfect excision F) specialized transduction involves the transfer of both bacterial and viral DNAarrow_forwardRecombinant protein production by a genetically modified Escherichia coli strain is proportional to cell growth. Ammonia is used as a nitrogen source for aerobic glucose respiration. The recombinant protein has the general formula CH1,55O0,31N0,25, while that of the cellular biomass is CH1,77O0,49N0,24. The biomass yield from glucose equals 0.50 g/g, while the recombinant protein yield from glucose corresponds to 20% of the cell yield from substrate.a) How much ammonia is required? What is the oxygen demand? (b) If the biomass yield remains the same, what are the ammonia and oxygen requirements for a wild-type strain of E. coli, with cell biomass of the same elemental composition, but unable to synthesize the recombinant protein? (c) On an industrial scale, cultivation takes place in a continuous fermenter at 28°C and the desired recombinant protein production rate is 7 g/h. Since the viscosity of the culture broth is considerable, the energy input due to agitation cannot be neglected.…arrow_forward
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genetic recombination strategies of bacteria CONJUGATION, TRANSDUCTION AND TRANSFORMATION; Author: Scientist Cindy;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Va8FZJEl9A;License: Standard youtube license