industry. Engineered derivatives of R plasmids, such as pBR 322 and pUC (see Chap- ter 10), have become the preferred vectors for the molecular cloning of the DNA of all organisms. The genes on an R plasmid that confer resistance can be used as markers to keep track of the movement of the vectors between cells. On R plasmids, the alleles for antibiotic resistance are often contained within a unit called a transposon (Figure 5-20). Transposons are unique segments of DNA FIGURE 5-19 The diagram shows the origins of genes of the Lactococcus kactis plasmid pk214. The genes are from many different bacteria. (Data from Tabia 1 in V. Parratan, F. Schwarz, L. Cresta, M. Boogin, G Dasan, and M. Teuber, Nature 389, 1997, B01-8021 A plasmid with segments from many former bacterial hosts Lactocoan um Myamplama Laer mananytger cal Ler manaytagene Plasmid pka14 Staphylocon Suptocoan agatate Laa platanm Lacicam Sp ogen Saphy Eachaich Enchert Eachar Lactcn
Genetic Recombination
Recombination is crucial to this process because it allows genes to be reassorted into diverse combinations. Genetic recombination is the process of combining genetic components from two different origins into a single unit. In prokaryotes, genetic recombination takes place by the unilateral transfer of deoxyribonucleic acid. It includes transduction, transformation, and conjugation. The genetic exchange occurring between homologous deoxyribonucleic acid sequences (DNA) from two different sources is termed general recombination. For this to happen, an identical sequence of the two recombining molecules is required. The process of genetic exchange which occurs in eukaryotes during sexual reproduction such as meiosis is an example of this type of genetic recombination.
Microbial Genetics
Genes are the functional units of heredity. They transfer characteristic information from parents to the offspring.
In Figure 5-19, how many different bacterial species are
shown as having contributed DNA to the plasmid pk214?


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