Scientists are concerned that bacteria will be resistant to all antibiotics within the next decade. Using your knowledge of genetics, briefly describe one method by which bacterial populations can develop drug resistance. Do NOT use "mutation" as your answer. Be more specific. From what you learned in this chapter, how would the bacteria be able to change or mutate in order to become antibiotic resistant? Explain why the following statement is false: Sexual reproduction is the only mechanism for genetic change. Do NOT use Mutation as your answer. Be more specific: what are other mechanisms by which microbes can change or mutate their DNA?
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.
- Scientists are concerned that bacteria will be resistant to all antibiotics within the next decade. Using your knowledge of genetics, briefly describe one method by which bacterial populations can develop drug resistance. Do NOT use "mutation" as your answer. Be more specific. From what you learned in this chapter, how would the bacteria be able to change or mutate in order to become antibiotic resistant?
- Explain why the following statement is false: Sexual reproduction is the only mechanism for genetic change. Do NOT use Mutation as your answer. Be more specific: what are other mechanisms by which microbes can change or mutate their DNA?
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