Concept explainers
HOW DO WE KNOW?
In this chapter, we have focused on genetic systems present in bacteria and on the viruses that use bacteria as hosts (bacteriophages). In particular, we discussed mechanisms by which bacteria and their phages undergo genetic recombination, which allows geneticists to map bacterial and bacteriophage chromosomes. In the process, we found many opportunities to consider how this information was acquired. From the explanations given in the chapter, what answers would you propose to the following questions?
- (a) How do we know that genes exist in bacteria and bacteriophages?
- (b) How do we know that bacteria undergo genetic recombination, allowing the transfer of genes from one organism to another?
- (c) How do we know whether or not genetic recombination between bacteria involves cell-to-cell contact?
- (d) How do we know that bacteriophages recombine genetic material through transduction and that cell-to-cell contact is not essential for transduction to occur?
- (e) How do we know that intergenic exchange occurs in bacteriophages?
- (f) How do we know that in bacteriophage T4 the rII locus is subdivided into two regions, or cistrons?
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- Consider three genes in E. coli: thr+, ara+, and leu+ (which give the cell the ability to synthesize threonine, arabinose, and leucine, respectively). All three of these genes are close together on the E. coli chromosome. Phages are grown in a thr+ ara+ leu+ strain of bacteria (the donor strain). The phage lysate is collected and used to infect a strain of bacteria that is thr− ara− leu −. The recipient bacteria are then tested on selective medium lacking leucine. Bacteria that grow and form colonies on this medium (leu+ transductants) are then replica-plated on medium lacking threonine and on medium lacking arabinose to see which are thr+ and which are ara+. Another group of the recipient bacteria are tested on medium lackingthreonine. Bacteria that grow and form colonies on this medium (thr+ transductants) are then replica-plated on medium lacking leucine and onto medium lacking arabinose to see which are ara+ and which are leu+. Results from these experiments are as follows:…arrow_forwardDetermine the order of the three genes on the phage chromosome.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_forward
- You are a graduate student working to construct a single gene knockout library of Leptospiria kirschneri, one the causative agents of leptospirosis. You are looking for single gene mutants which disrupt the bacterium’s spirillum shape to determine what role this rare cellular morphology may play in disease development and progression. Using an appropriate donor strain, you introduce the plasmid shown into L. kirschneri. L. kirschneri is not able to replicate the plasmid. The repeat regions are denoted on the plasmid map as vertical black lines, the transposase is denoted as tnp, and kanamycin kinase is denoted as aph. The larger of the two regions is transposed. Following selection and counter-selection, you isolate several non-spirillum colonies, which you use to infect juvenile piglets. Most of the infected piglets develop leptospirosis. Isolating L. kirschneri from these animals reveals that it has regained its spirillum morphology. What is a likely explanation for this reversion of…arrow_forwardTwo mutations that affect plaque morphology in phages (a and b ) have been isolated. Phages carrying both mutations (a b) are mixed with wild-type phages (a* b*) and added to a culture of bacterial cells. Once the phages have infected and lysed the bacteria, samples of the phage lysate are collected and cultured on plated bacteria. The following numbers of plaques are observed: Plaque phenotype Number a* b* 2043 a* b- 320 a b* 357 2134 What is the frequency of recombination between the a and b genes?arrow_forwardEscherichia coli (E. coli) is a bacterium normally found in the human gut. It is harmless and may actually be beneficial to the human digestive system. There is a pathogenic strain of E. coli that produces a toxin that can kill its human host. The two strains look very similar under the microscope. Comparison of their genomes reveals that the pathogenic strain lacks 528 genes found in the normal strain and has 1,387 genes not found in the not found in the normal strain. Are the normal and pathogenic strains of E.coli separate species? Explain your answer.arrow_forward
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