Bacterial Gene Transfer

 

John Mordacq and Roberta Ellington

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2004, Volume 25

Abstract

This laboratory investigates one form of genetic recombination in bacteria. This process, called conjugation, occurs when one bacteria transfers DNA to another bacteria. Two different strains of Escherichia coli are used: an Hfr strain with the F factor integrated into the bacterial chromosome acting as the donor, and an F-strain lacking the fertility factor acting as a recipient. The F-strain is auxotrophic for certain genetic markers and the ordered transfer of markers from the Hfr strain to the F-strain is used to map gene locations on the bacterial chromosome.

Keywords:  E. coli, chromosome, recombination, auxotroph, conjugation, molecular mapping

University of Nevada, Las Vegas (2003)