Question

concept of horizontal gene transfer in bacteria and how it can occur through a couple of different routes. Name two routes of transfer and why this occurring is particularly concerning in clinical settings

Answer 1

In horizontal gene transfer mechanism it transfers genetic material from one organism to another organism that is not its offspring.

Three types Transformation, Conjugation and Transduction.

Transformation - uptake of short fragments of naked DNA by bacteria.

COnjugation - transfer of DNA by sexual pilus and requires cell - cell contact.

Transduction - By virus phage particle it transfer bacterial gene from one organism to another.

Conjugation and Transduction are most concerning in clinical. Because in conjugation the plasmid of bacteria is replicated and transfer to another bacteria. In plasmid it contain antibiotic resistance gene if it transfer to new bacteria species it also gets that resistance. Like wise most of the susceptible bacteria express resistance by these newly acquired resistance genes.

Transduction helps the bacteria to become more resistance to new environment. The phage particle take one particluar gene lets say gal+ from organsims and affect the another organisms which does not have gal-. So now this gal- converted onto gal+ and able to survive in this zone. Like wise antibiotic resistance gene also tranfer to many other different species.