In: Biology
Bacteria developed a number of methods to make changes in genetic material to contribute genetic diversity. Bacteria make changes in genetic material by different means.
Spontaneous genetic change occurs by mutation. A mutation is a sudden heritage change in Nucleotide sequence. Point mutation and DNA rearrangement to produce insertions, deletion, inversions, are major mutation mechanisms. These mutation occurs in slow phase. Mutation are induced by physical, chemical and biological means.
The change is heritable in mutation and passed on to the progeny of the variant cell to produce a subclone with characteristics different from wild type.
Bacterial variations can also occur by horizontal transfer of genetic material. Transformation, Transduction and conjugation are three means.
Transformation : The uptake of naked DNA molecules and their stable maintenance in bacteria.
Transduction : Packaging and transfer of Bacterial DNA by virus.
Conjugation: Bacterial mating in which cells must be in contact