1.4 Genetics and Growth of Prokaryotic Cells

Binary Fission

Asexual reproduction of prokaryotes.

Plasmids

Extragenomic genetic material in prokaryotes.

Virulence Factors

Traits that make bacteria more pathogenic.

Episomes

Plasmids that can incorporate into the genome.

Antibiotic Degradation, Antibiotic Alteration, Antibiotic Efflux Pumping

Bacterial mechanisms of antibiotic resistance.

Transformation, Conjugation, Transduction

Mechanisms through which bacteria recombine genes.

Transformation

The process of incorporating foreign genetic material into the host genome.

Many gram-negative rods are capable of doing this.

Gram-Negative Bacilli

Many of these rod-shaped bacteria are capable of transformation.

Conjugation

Mating of bacteria.

Conjugation Bridge

Forms between conjugating bacteria that facilitates the transfer of genetic material.

Unidirectional Transfer

Bacteria send the genetic material in one direction, from the donor male to the recipient female.

Sex Pilli

Appendages on the male bacterium that form the conjugation bridge.

Sex Factors

Plasmid genes that encode the necessary material to form the sex pilli. Though it is a plasmid, it can be incorporated through transformation.

Fertility Factor

Common sex factor which define E. coli as F+ or F-.

Hfr

Cells that transform the sex factors are said to have a high frequency of recombination.

Transduction

Genetic recombination process that requires a vector.

Transposons

Genetic material that is capable of inserting and removing itself from a genome.

Lag Phase

Bacteria first adapt to local conditions during this time.

Exponential Phase

As the bacteria adapt, their growth grows exponentially.

Log Phase

Another name for the exponential phase.

Stationary Phase

As the bacteria grow so rapidly, nutrients and materials become scarce. This scarcity causes the growth to slow down.

Death Phase

Once the bacteria have exhausted the resources of their environment, they all die.