horizontal gene transfer (copy)

perform sexual reproduction

eukaryotes

produces lots of genetic variation

meiosis + sexual reproduction

mainly perform asexual reproduction

bacteria

makes clones and produces very little genetic variation

Binary fission

do not do meiosis nor traditional sexual reproduction

bacteria → have thier ways to increase genetic variation

Conjugation

accept DNA from another live bacterium

transformation

accept DNA from environment

transduction

accept DNA from a virus (bacteriophage)

recombinant cells

Cells that have changed in such a way are referred to

Conjugation

Donor cell with pilus Fertility plasmid in donor Both donor and recipient alive Bridge forms between cells to transfer DNA. DIRECT

transformation

Free donor DNA (fragment) Live, competent recipient cell INDIRECT

transduction

Donor is lysed bacterial cell. Defective bacteriophage is carrier of donor DNA. Live recipient cell of same species as donor INDIRECT

Why is genetic variation beneficial?

Genetic variation helps organisms adapt to changing environments

Why doesn’t typical bacterial reproduction produce variation?

Bacteria reproduce by binary fission (just copying themselves), making identical clones.No mixing of genes = no genetic variation unless mutations or horizontal gene transfer occu