Generalized Transduction Notes

Generalized Transduction

• Generalized transduction is a process where DNA is transferred from one bacterial cell to another via a bacteriophage (or phage).

• The phage, a bacterial virus, attaches to a bacterial cell.

• It injects its nucleic acid into the host cell.

• A phage-produced enzyme then breaks down the host cell's DNA into smaller fragments.

• Phage DNA replicates and phage proteins are produced.

• During the assembly of mature phage particles, some phage heads mistakenly encapsulate fragments of bacterial DNA instead of phage DNA.

• A phage particle containing bacterial DNA infects a new cell.

• This transfers the bacterial DNA to the new host cell.

• The introduced bacterial DNA can integrate into the recipient cell's chromosome.

• This integration transfers genes to the recipient cell.

• The recipient cell multiplies, now carrying the new genetic material.