Lecture 12 - Plasmids, Phages & Gene Transfer

How do plasmids replicate themselves?

How many plasmids can be carried by one bacteria?

What types of genes do plasmids do not/ do carry?

Are plasmids acquired by the bacterium for a purpose?

What is rather annoying if a plasmid is useless?

What is meant by conjugation between plasmids and bacteria?

Describe the plasmid movement between bacteria, and how they are extremely selfish.

What is the name of the component of the plasmid used to build the pillus between the 2 bacteria during conjugation? Describe its structure.

What is the name of the component of the plasmid used to initiate replication of the plasmid's DNA within the donor?

Describe Rolling Circle Replication.

What is the name of the plasmid first ever to be discovered in E.coli ?

What is meant by the terms F+ and F- in conjugation of the F plasmid?

What vital trait do many bacterial cells have as a result of conjugation?

What is meant by a chimeric plasmid?

What is meant by a 'wonder' plasmid?

Why is recombination of a plasmid into a chromosome of the bacterium not really an advantage to the plasmid?

Why are plasmids' sequences always read as direct repeats within their genomes?

Describe a way in which plasmids can effectively 'steal' genes from the bacterial host. Giving examples where necessary.

If spontaneous disintegration between a plasmid and a chromosome takes place, when can this go terribly wrong for the bacteria?

What is the F plasmid?

What is the Hfr bacterial cell?

How are F' plasmids formed from Hfr bacterial cells?

Describe the conjugation events that occur once the F' plasmid has been disintegrated from the bacterial chromosome.

What is meant by a virulent phage?

How do virulent phages cause damage to bacteria?

What is meant by generalised transduction?

When phages inject bacterial DNA into neighbouring bacteria via generalised transduction, what can happen to this DNA?

Give an example of a virulent bacterophage.

Briefly describe Generalised Transduction by Phage P1.

What are transducing particles?

When new DNA synthesised from generalised transduction has been released in phages from the bacterium and then used to infect neighbouring bacteria; what are the three fates of the bacteria?

What is meant by temperate phages?

What is meant by specialised transduction?

What type of phage undergoes specialised transduction?

How does lysogen formation lead to mutations?

Discuss what is meant by a prophage.

What is meant by stable integration of foreign genes into the host genome from phages?

Give an example of a prophage.

Briefly describe the Lambda lifecycle (both lytic and lysogenic).

Briefly describe the process of Specialised Transduction by Lambda.

What is meant by a lysogen?