With respect to F⁺ and F⁻ bacterial matings, answer the following questions:How was it established that physical contact between cells was necessary?

The flow diagram identifies relationships between bacterial strains in various F factor states. For each of the four arrows in the diagram, provide a description of the events involved in the transition.

Conjugation between an Hfr cell and an F⁻ cell does not usually result in conversion of exconjugants to the donor state. Occasionally, however, the result of this conjugation is two Hfr cells. Explain how this occurs.

With respect to F⁺ and F⁻ bacterial matings, answer the following questions:What is the genetic basis for a bacterium's being F⁺.

With respect to F⁺ and F⁻ bacterial matings, answer the following questions:How was it established that chromosome transfer was unidirectional?

Bacteria transfer genes by conjugation, transduction, and transformation. Compare and contrast these mechanisms. In your answer, identify which if any processes involve homologous recombination and which if any do not.

List all major differences between (a) the F⁺ x F⁻ and the Hfr x F⁻ bacterial crosses; and (b) the F⁺, F⁻, Hfr, and F' bacteria.

Explain the importance of the following features in conjugating donor bacteria:the origin of transfer