Foundations in Pharmacology PHRM2005

A collection of flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the Foundations in Pharmacology lecture.

Mobile Genetic Elements

Genetic components in bacteria that can move within or between cells, including plasmids, bacteriophages, and transposable elements.

Horizontal Gene Transfer

The transfer of genetic material between organisms in a manner other than traditional reproduction; includes transformation, transduction, and conjugation.

Plasmids

Small circular DNA molecules found in bacteria that replicate independently of the chromosomal DNA.

Bacteriophage

A virus that infects bacteria, leading to death of the infected bacterial cell.

Transposable Elements

Segments of DNA that can move ('transpose') from one location to another within the genome.

Transformation

The process where bacteria take up naked DNA from their environment, allowing for genetic changes.

Transduction

The transfer of DNA from one bacterium to another by a bacteriophage.

Conjugation

A method of horizontal gene transfer that involves direct physical contact between bacterial cells.

Mutations

Changes in the bacterial genome that can arise from errors in DNA replication or due to external factors.

Episome

A type of plasmid that can integrate into the bacterial chromosome.

Virulence Genes

Genes carried by plasmids or bacteriophages that confer pathogenic characteristics to bacteria.

Antibiotic Resistance Genes

Genes that provide bacteria the capability to resist the effects of antibiotics, often carried on plasmids.

Point Mutation

A change in a single nucleotide of DNA that may affect gene expression.

Generalized Transduction

The process where bacteriophages accidentally package and transfer pieces of the host bacterial DNA.

Specialized Transduction

Transduction that results from the incorrect excision of a prophage, leading to the transfer of adjacent bacterial DNA.

Competence Factors

Proteins that enable bacteria to take up and incorporate foreign DNA during transformation.

Lysogenic Cycle

A cycle in which a bacteriophage integrates its DNA into the bacterial chromosome without killing the host.

Lytic Cycle

A cycle in which a bacteriophage replicates within a bacterium, ultimately leading to the death of the bacterial cell.

Transposase

An enzyme that facilitates the movement of transposable elements within the genome.

Homologous Recombination

A process during which DNA segments exchange genetic material based on sequence similarity, particularly important in gene transfer.

Hfr Strain

A high-frequency recombination strain of bacteria that can transfer chromosomal genes during conjugation.

Spontaneous Mutations

Mutations that occur due to errors in DNA replication, independent of external factors.