Chapter 9 Assignment

Horizontal gene transfer is possible ______.

between members of the same species or members of different species

Antibiotic resistant strains such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus have become more common in recent years due to ______.

horizontal gene transfer

Many bacterial strains have plasmids because plasmids ______.

often contain genes that provide a growth advantage for bacteria

During conjugation, the initial contact between the donor and recipient cell involves structures called sex _____________ that are made by F+ strains.

pili

What is the function of the sex pili during conjugation?

They make contact with recipient cells.

Transformation

When a bacterial cell takes up foreign DNA from the environment

Transduction

When a virus transfers DNA from one bacterial cell to another

When a scientist uses transformation to introduce foreign DNA into cells in the laboratory, the process is called ____________ transformation in order to distinguish this process from transformation that occurs naturally.

artificial

What is the F factor that is found in F+ donor strains of E. coli?

A small circular segment of DNA that is separate from the circular chromosome.

What is a plasmid?

A DNA molecule that can exist independently of the bacterial chromosome.

In addition to their circular chromosome, strains of E. coli that can act as donors during conjugation contain a small circular segment of DNA called a(n)

F, F factor, F+

True or false: Transformation, the uptake of foreign DNA by bacterial cells, does not occur in nature, but it is possible in genetically engineered bacterial strains.

False

Conjugation

Transfer of DNA between two living bacterial cells in direct contact with one another

Which of the following statements about transformation is correct?

Transformation is a natural process that has evolved in some species of bacteria.

What is a competent cell?

a bacterial cell that can take up foreign DNA

What is a bacteriophage?

a virus that infects bacteria

The term artificial transformation refers to transformation that ______.

is performed in a laboratory

Infection of a bacterial cell with bacteriophage can lead to the production and assembly of new phages, which eventually cause the host cell to burst open. This is referred to as the _________ cycle

lytic

What is horizontal gene transfer?

transfer of DNA to a recipient that is not the offspring of the donor organism