Horizontal Gene Transfer in Bacteria

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts from the lecture notes on horizontal gene transfer in bacteria.

Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT)

The movement of genetic material between organisms other than by vertical inheritance; in bacteria, via conjugation, transformation, or transduction.

Conjugation

A mode of HGT in bacteria that involves direct cell-to-cell contact and transfer of DNA, often mediated by a F (fertility) plasmid.

F plasmid

A fertility factor plasmid that enables conjugation by forming a mating bridge and transferring DNA between bacteria.

Transformation

Uptake of free DNA from the environment by a competent bacterium; commonly requires dead donor cells to release DNA.

Dead bacteria

Donor cells that have lysed and released DNA into the environment, enabling transformation.

Transduction

HGT of bacterial genes mediated by bacteriophages (viruses) during infection.

Virus (bacteriophage)

A virus that infects bacteria and can transfer bacterial genes during transduction.

Binary fission

Asexual reproduction in bacteria that produces genetically identical clones and is not a mechanism of horizontal gene transfer.

Plasmid

Small circular DNA molecule that carries genes (often antibiotic resistance) and can be transferred during conjugation.

Antibiotic resistance

Trait enabling bacteria to survive antibiotics; can spread between bacteria via horizontal gene transfer.