Transfer of genetic information

Transfer of genetic information


Gene transfer

  • Gene transfer refers to the process of genetic material (e.g. DNA) being sent and received among two organisms-* Donor sends and recipient receives the genetic material.
  • There are two processes of gene transfer 😕

1.  Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) or lateral gene transfer

  • Horizontal gene transfer is the process by which genetic material is passed between two different organism,i.e. organism of different species.
  • The recipient is not the offspring of donor.
  • The most important example is gene transfer between the bacteria.
  • The processes of horizontal gene transfer in bacteria are:
  1. Conjugation
  2. Transduction
  3. Transformation.

a. Conjugation 

  • Mating of two bacterial cells, during which DNA is transferred from the donor to the recipient cell 
  • The mating process is controlled by anF (fertility) plasmid (F factor), which carries the genes for the proteins required for conjugation.
  • The role of plasmids in conjugation was first described by Lederberg and Tatum in E coli
  • Donor status is determined by the presence of plasmid
  • Sex pilus (conjugation tube) helps in transfer of genetic material from male bacterium to female bacterium.
  • The plasmid is known as transfer factor (sex factor or fertility factor).
  • Plasmid may be R factor, which codes for transferrable multiple drug resistance.

 b. Transduction
  • Transfer of cell DNA by means of a bacterial virus (bacteriophage, phage). 
c. Transformation 
  • Transfer of DNA itself from one cell to another.
2.  Vertical gene transfer
  • Vertical gene transfer is the process of transferring genetic material to organism of same species, i.e. donor recieves genetic material from its ancestor, e.g. its parent or a species from which it evolved.
  • This process is not important in bacteria.

Exam Important

Gene transfer

  • Gene transfer refers to the process of genetic material (e.g. DNA) being sent and received among two organisms-* Donor sends and recipient receives the genetic material.

1.  Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) or lateral gene transfer

  1.  Conjugation
  2. Transduction
  3. Transformation.

a. Conjugation 

  • Mating of two bacterial cells, during which DNA is transferred from the donor to the recipient cell 
  • The mating process is controlled by anF (fertility) plasmid (F factor), which carries the genes for the proteins required for conjugation.
  • The role of plasmids in conjugation was first described by Lederberg and Tatum in E coli
  • Plasmid may be R factor, which codes for transferrable multiple drug resistance.

b. Transduction

  • Transfer of cell DNA by means of a bacterial virus (bacteriophage, phage).  

c. Transformation 

  • Transfer of DNA itself from one cell to another

2.  Vertical gene transfer

  • This process is not important in bacteria.
Don’t Forget to Solve all the previous Year Question asked on Transfer of genetic information

Module Below Start Quiz

Leave a Reply

Discover more from New

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading

👨‍⚕️
Chat Support