Question

Micro biology for health professionals. Question: Genetic transfer and recombination: discuss horizontal vs vertical and compare/contrast transformation, conjugation, and transduction

Answer 1

The genetic transfer is an insertion of unrelated genetic information in the form of DNA into cells. The treatment of diseases using gene transfer to supply patients with therapeutic genes. There are also different ways to transfer genes. Horizontal gene transfer may be carried by three main mechanisms which includes transformation, transduction or conjugation. Transformation involves uptake of short fragments of naked DNA by naturally transformable bacteria. Transduction involves transfer of DNA from one bacterium into another via bacteriophages. In transduction, DNA is transmitted from one cell to another through a bacteriophage. In horizontal gene transfer, newly acquired DNA is incorporated into the genome of the recipient through either recombination or insertion. Insertion occurs when the foreign DNA introduced into a cell shares no homology with existing DNA. The horizontal genetic materials is transferred through these process.In horizontal genetic transfer the anitbiotic resistance developed in the organism when an antibiotic resistant gene is successfully incorporated by it. For example in humans gene transfer of viral DNA by human papillomavirus (HPV) causes cervical cancer in human hosts.
Whereas if we talk about the vertical gene transfer, in this transfer of genetic material includes the process of transfer from parental organism to progeny and it involves reproduction, development of antibiotic resistance is gained by the offspring only if the parent possessed it, for example, transfer of HIV infection from mother to child.