Question

4) In 2011, researchers discovered bacterial cells possessing human genes, they found that more than 10% of a Neisseria gonorrhoeae population, the species responsible for gonorrhea, contained a human DNA fragment. This fragment was not found in other species of Neisseria. How might a bacterial cell have acquired human DNA? Explain

9) Describe pGLO plasmid genes and how we can prove that the transformation was successful         

10) On which of the plates would you expect to find bacteria most like the original non-transformed E. coli colonies you initially observed? Explain.         

Answer 1

4) Neisseria gonorrhoea might have acquired the human DNA fragment by lateral transfer method, which used to take place during the gene transfers between bacteria and multicellular organisms.

9) The pGLO plasmid is an engineered plasmid used in biotechnology as a vector for creating genetically modified organisms.
pGLO is made up of three genes. They are Bla gene, araC gene and GFP gene.
Bla gene codes for the enzyme beta-lactamase. This gives the transformed bacteria resistance to the beta-lactam family of antibiotics, using which the transformed bacteria can be identified from normal ones.

10)Bacteria which resemble the non-transformed E. coli will be found on the LB/(-) PGLO plate.