
Concept explainers
The terms conjugation, transduction, and transformation are used to describe three different natural forms of genetic transfer between bacterial cells. Briefly discuss the similarities and differences among these processes.

To review:
The similarities and differences among transformation, conjugation and transduction.
Introduction:
Genetic recombination is characterized by DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) transfer in bacteria, from one organism, known as the donor, to another organism, known as the recipient. Such a genetic transfer is also known as horizontal gene transfer. In bacteria, obligate sexual reproduction is not present. Horizontal gene transfer is also known to occur between different species.
Explanation of Solution
The differences between transformation, conjugation and transduction are tabulated below.
Transduction | Transformation | Conjugation |
The transfer of the genes from one bacterium to another is referred to as transduction. | The incorporation of exogenous genetic material, resulting in the genetic alteration of a cell, is called transformation. | The genetic material transfer among the bacterial species with the help of sex pilus is called conjugation. |
It does not require for the occurrence of any physical contact between the recipient and the donor organism. | It requires the occurrence of physical contact between the recipient and the donor organism. | There is a direct cell-to-cell contact or a bridge-like connection between the two cells. |
Resistant to DNase. |
Not resistant to DNase. | Role of DNase is not defined. |
The similarities among transformation, conjugation and transduction are as follows:
1. All three, that is, transformation, transduction and conjugation, are examples of horizontal gene transfer as genetic information is not transferred from the parent to the offspring.
2. All three methodsincrease genetic variation as a part of genetic material is transferred from the donor to the recipient.
Therefore, it can be concluded that all three, that is, transformation, transduction and conjugation are methods of transferring genetic material, but they all differ in the process of transfer.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 7 Solutions
GENETICS:ANALYSIS+PRIN.(LL)-W/ACCESS
- This question has multiple parts (A, B & C), and under the subject of Nutrition. Thank you!arrow_forwardCalculate the CFU/ml of a urine sample if 138 E. coli colonies were counted on a Nutrient Agar Plate when0.5 mls were plated on the NA plate from a 10-9 dilution tube. You must highlight and express your answerin scientific notatioarrow_forwardDon't copy off the other answer if there is anyarrow_forward
- Use the following information to answer the question(s) below. Martin Wikelski and L. Michael Romero (Body size, performance and fitness in Galápagos marine iguanas, Integrative and Comparative Biology 43 [2003]:376-86) measured the snout-to-vent (anus) length of Galápagos marine iguanas and observed the percent survival of different-sized animals, all of the same age. The graph shows the log snout-vent length (SVL, a measure of overall body size) plotted against the percent survival of these different size classes for males and females. Survival (%) 100- 80- 60- 40- 20- 0+ 1.9 T 2 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Log SVL (mm) 19) Examine the figure above. What type of selection for body size appears to be occurring in these marine iguanas? A) directional selection B) stabilizing selection C) disruptive selection D) You cannot determine the type of selection from the above information. 3arrow_forward24) Use the following information to answer the question below. Researchers studying a small milkweed population note that some plants produce a toxin and other plants do not. They identify the gene responsible for toxin production. The dominant allele (T) codes for an enzyme that makes the toxin, and the recessive allele (t) codes for a nonfunctional enzyme that cannot produce the toxin. Heterozygotes produce an intermediate amount of toxin. The genotypes of all individuals in the population are determined (see table) and used to determine the actual allele frequencies in the population. TT 0.49 Tt 0.42 tt 0.09 Refer to the table above. Is this population in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium? A) Yes. C) No; there are more homozygotes than expected. B) No; there are more heterozygotes than expected. D) It is impossible to tell.arrow_forward30) A B CDEFG Refer to the accompanying figure. Which of the following forms a monophyletic group? A) A, B, C, and D B) C and D C) D, E, and F D) E, F, and Garrow_forward
- Biology: The Dynamic Science (MindTap Course List)BiologyISBN:9781305389892Author:Peter J. Russell, Paul E. Hertz, Beverly McMillanPublisher:Cengage LearningBiology (MindTap Course List)BiologyISBN:9781337392938Author:Eldra Solomon, Charles Martin, Diana W. Martin, Linda R. BergPublisher:Cengage Learning
- Human Heredity: Principles and Issues (MindTap Co...BiologyISBN:9781305251052Author:Michael CummingsPublisher:Cengage LearningConcepts of BiologyBiologyISBN:9781938168116Author:Samantha Fowler, Rebecca Roush, James WisePublisher:OpenStax College



