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Ch. 6 - Genetic Analysis and Mapping in Bacteria and Bacteriophages
Sanders - Genetic Analysis: An Integrated Approach 3rd Edition
Sanders3rd EditionGenetic Analysis: An Integrated ApproachISBN: 9780135564172Not the one you use?Change textbook
Chapter 6, Problem 2

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.
Diagram showing transitions between bacterial strains: F⁻ to F⁺ by conjugation, F⁺ to Hfr by integration, Hfr to F′ by excision, and F′ to F⁻ by loss.

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Step 1: Identify the initial and final F factor states for each arrow in the flow diagram. The F factor (fertility factor) can exist in different forms such as F+, F-, Hfr, or F'. Understanding these states is crucial to describing the transitions.
Step 2: For each arrow, determine the genetic event that causes the transition. Common events include conjugation (transfer of F factor), integration or excision of the F factor into/from the bacterial chromosome, or recombination events that alter the F factor state.
Step 3: Describe the molecular mechanism involved in the transition. For example, if the arrow represents a change from F- to F+, explain that this involves conjugation where the F+ donor transfers the F plasmid to the F- recipient, converting it to F+.
Step 4: For transitions involving Hfr strains, explain how the F factor integrates into the bacterial chromosome, allowing transfer of chromosomal genes during conjugation, and how excision can create F' plasmids carrying chromosomal genes.
Step 5: Summarize each arrow's event by linking the biological process (e.g., conjugation, integration, excision) to the change in F factor state, ensuring clarity on how the bacterial strain's genotype and phenotype are altered.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

F Factor and Its States

The F factor is a plasmid that controls bacterial conjugation and can exist in different states: as an independent plasmid (F+), integrated into the chromosome (Hfr), or absent (F-). Understanding these states is essential to interpret how bacteria transfer genetic material during conjugation.
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F Factor and Hfr

Bacterial Conjugation Mechanism

Bacterial conjugation is a process where genetic material is transferred from a donor to a recipient cell via direct contact, often mediated by the F factor. This process involves the formation of a mating bridge and transfer of DNA, which can change the F factor state of the recipient.
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Conjugation Overview

Integration and Excision of the F Factor

The F factor can integrate into the bacterial chromosome to form an Hfr strain or excise to revert to an F+ plasmid. These events involve recombination processes that alter the genetic makeup and conjugation capabilities of the bacterial cell.
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F Factor and Hfr
Related Practice
Textbook Question

For bacteria that are F⁺, Hfr, F', and F⁻, perform or answer the following.

Which of these donors can transfer a donor gene to exconjugants?

Textbook Question

For bacteria that are F⁺, Hfr, F', and F⁻, perform or answer the following.

Describe the results of conjugation (i.e., changes in the recipient and the exconjugant) that allow detection of the state of the F factor in a donor strain.

Textbook Question

For bacteria that are F⁺, Hfr, F', and F⁻, perform or answer the following.

Describe a "partial diploid" and how it originates.

Textbook Question

Go online to the Online Mendelian Inheritance of Man (OMIM) website. Look up the following genetic conditions and answer the questions posed about them.

Go to the 'Population Genetics' section discussing the TSD gene. In a few sentences, summarize the human population in which TSD is most frequently found and give the approximate frequency of heterozygous carriers for the TSD mutation in North American Jews.

Textbook Question

Go online to the Online Mendelian Inheritance of Man (OMIM) website. Look up the following genetic conditions and answer the questions posed about them.

Look up Tay–Sachs disease (TSD), OMIM number 272800, and give the name and abbreviation of the affected gene and the chromosome location of the gene.

Textbook Question

Go online to the Online Mendelian Inheritance of Man (OMIM) website. Look up the following genetic conditions and answer the questions posed about them.

Go to the 'Molecular Genetics' section and describe the most common mutation of the CF gene.