Prescott's Microbiology
Prescott's Microbiology
10th Edition
ISBN: 9781259281594
Author: Joanne Willey, Linda Sherwood Adjunt Professor Lecturer, Christopher J. Woolverton Professor
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education
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Chapter 16, Problem 1CHI

Mutations are often considered harmful. Give an example of a mutation that would be beneficial to a microorganism. What gene would bear the mutation? How would the mutation alter the gene’s role in the cell, and what conditions would select for this mutant allele?

Expert Solution
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Summary Introduction

To identify: The gene that bears the mutation with an example of the mutation that is beneficial to the micro-organism.

Introduction: Alteration in the DNA sequence of the cell is known as a mutation. Various types of mutations found in the cell. Some mutations arise due to changes in the single base pair of nucleotides and the addition or deletion of a single nucleotide pair in the exon of the DNA sequence. These kinds of small changes are known as point mutations, which are associated with only a single base pair in a particular site of the DNA sequence. Larger mutations in the DNA sequence are less common. The larger mutations are larger insertions, deletions, duplications, translocations, and inversions of nucleotide sequences. Mutations often occur in two ways such as spontaneous mutations (which arise occasionally) and induced mutations (which arise from the exposure of mutagens).

Explanation of Solution

Generally, mutations are harmful to the cell because they affect proteins and phenotype of an organism. However, some mutations play a beneficial effect on microorganisms, for instance,mutation-induced antibiotic resistance in microorganisms. For example, a mutation in the rpsL gene induces resistance to the streptomycin (an antibiotic).

Expert Solution
Check Mark
Summary Introduction

To describe: The condition that selects the mutant allele and how these mutations alter the gene’s role in the cell.

Explanation of Solution

The rpsL is considered as an important part of the ribosome. The interaction of streptomycin with the small subunit of the ribosome inhibits translation in microorganisms. Hence, mutations in the rpsL can reduce the binding efficiency of the ribosome to streptomycin. Therefore, the environment containing lethal concentrations of antibiotic streptomycin could be a very strong selective pressure for a mutation. Though the rpsL gene mutation produces a beneficial effect by inducing streptomycin resistance, it may affect other cellular function and protein synthesis.

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Chapter 16 Solutions

Prescott's Microbiology

Ch. 16.2 - Design an experiment that selects for mutants of a...Ch. 16.2 - Describe how you would isolate a mutant that...Ch. 16.2 - Prob. 6RIACh. 16.3 - How is mismatch repair similar to DNA polymerase...Ch. 16.3 - How is damaged DNA recognized by the UvrAB...Ch. 16.3 - Prob. 1RIACh. 16.3 - Retrieve, Infer, Apply What role does DNA...Ch. 16.3 - Retrieve, Infer, Apply When E. coli cells are...Ch. 16.3 - Explain how the following DNA alterations and...Ch. 16.4 - An antibiotic-resistance gene located on a...Ch. 16.4 - What are the three mechanisms of horizontal gene...Ch. 16.4 - What four fates can DNA have after entering a...Ch. 16.4 - How does homologous recombination differ from...Ch. 16.5 - What features are common to all types of...Ch. 16.5 - How does a transposon differ from an insertion...Ch. 16.5 - What is simple (cut-and-paste) transposition? What...Ch. 16.5 - What effect would you expect the existence of...Ch. 16.6 - Prob. 1MICh. 16.6 - What is bacterial conjugation and how was it...Ch. 16.6 - For F+, Hfr, and F strains of E. coli, indicate...Ch. 16.6 - Describe how F+ F and Hfr conjugation processes...Ch. 16.6 - Compare and contract F+ F and F F conjugation.Ch. 16.7 - According to this model, what would happen if DNA...Ch. 16.7 - Define transformation and competence.Ch. 16.7 - Describe how transformation occurs in S....Ch. 16.7 - Discuss two ways in which artificial...Ch. 16.8 - What is the term used to describe a temperate...Ch. 16.8 - Compare the number of transducing particles that...Ch. 16.8 - Describe generalized transduction and how it...Ch. 16.8 - What is specialized transduction and how does it...Ch. 16.8 - How might one tell whether horizontal gene...Ch. 16.8 - Why doesnt a cell lyse after successful...Ch. 16.8 - Describe how conjugation, transformation, and...Ch. 16.9 - Why cant the gal and bio genes be transduced by...Ch. 16.9 - As a replicative transposon, what would happen if...Ch. 16 - Mutations are often considered harmful. Give an...Ch. 16 - Mistakes made during transcription affect the cell...Ch. 16 - Suppose that transduction took place when a U-tube...Ch. 16 - Suppose that you carried out a U-tube experiment...Ch. 16 - Prob. 5CHICh. 16 - Studies of phage therapy to treat bacterial...Ch. 16 - Enterococcus faecalis is a major cause of...
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