Bacterial Genetics: Mutations and Their Consequences

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to bacterial genetics, specifically focusing on mutations, their types, mechanisms of genetic change, and DNA repair processes.

Natural Selection

A process that favors organisms with greater fitness.

Genotype

The genetic make-up of an organism.

Phenotype

Observable characteristics of an organism.

Auxotroph

A mutant that requires growth factors for growth.

Prototroph

A mutant that does not require growth factors.

Wild type

The original bacterial strain.

Mutant

A strain with a modified genetic make-up.

Base substitution

A mutation involving a change of a single base pair.

Point mutation

Another term for base substitution, resulting in a change of a single base pair.

Silent mutation

A mutation that does not change the wild-type amino acid.

Missense mutation

A mutation that results in a different amino acid.

Nonsense mutation

A mutation that results in a shorter protein.

Transposons

Also known as jumping genes, they can move from one location to another.

Mutagen

An agent that induces genetic change.

Proofreading

A mechanism by DNA polymerase that verifies accuracy during DNA replication.

Mismatch repair

A DNA repair system that fixes errors missed by DNA polymerase.

Direct selection

A method where cells are grown on a medium that supports the growth of mutants but not their parent strain.

Indirect selection

A more difficult method to isolate auxotrophs from protrophic parent strains.

Transformation

Uptake of naked DNA by bacteria.

Transduction

Transfer of bacterial DNA by viruses.

Conjugation

DNA transfer between bacterial cells.