Horizontal Gene Transfer in Bacteria

Any transfer of DNA that results in organisms acquiring new genes that did not come directly from parent organisms

horizontal gene transfer

Acquiring genes from parent organisms during reproduction

vertical gene transfer

What type of organism engage in horizontal gene transfer?

Bacteria

Eukaryotic (aided and abetted by viruses)

DNA transfer between bacterial cells typically involved small pieces of DNA in the form of ________ or ______ ________

plasmids

chromosomal fragments

Shape of Plasmids

small and circular

Contain their own origin of replication and can replicate independently of the bacterial chromosome

Plasmids

Where are plasmids found?

bacteria

some fungi

How many genes do plasmids contain

at most a few dozen

What is one unique trait that plasmids carry

antibiotic resistance

________ ________ that have escaped from a lysed bacterial cell are also commonly involved in the transfer of genetic info between cells

Chromosomal Fragments

________ ______ must integrate themselves into the bacterial chromosome in order to be replicated and eventually passed on to progeny cells

chromosomal fragments

_________ have their own origin of replication and is stably replicated and inherited

Plasmids