GENETIC TRANSDUCTION Meaning and
Definition
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Genetic transduction refers to the process of transferring genetic material from one bacterium to another using a bacteriophage, which is a type of virus that specifically infects and replicates within bacteria. This phenomenon is a natural mechanism that enables the horizontal transfer of genes between bacteria, contributing to genetic diversity within bacterial populations.
In genetic transduction, the bacteriophage serves as a carrier or vector of the genetic material, facilitating its transfer between bacteria. The process occurs when a bacteriophage infects a bacterial cell and injects its own genetic material into the host cell. However, in some cases, instead of producing new viral particles, the bacteriophage mistakenly packages a fragment of the bacterial host's DNA into its own protein coat during the assembly process. This results in a transducing particle, which carries the bacterial DNA instead of its own genetic material.
Upon infection of a new bacterial host, the transducing particle injects the bacterial DNA into the recipient cell, incorporating it into the recipient's genome. As a result, the recipient bacterium gains new genetic material, potentially including genes that provide survival advantages such as antibiotic resistance or enhanced metabolic capabilities.
Genetic transduction is categorized into two types: generalized transduction and specialized transduction. In generalized transduction, any segment of donor bacterial DNA can be transferred, while specialized transduction involves the transfer of specific regions of the bacterial genome adjacent to the site of the prophage integration.
Overall, genetic transduction plays a significant role in bacterial evolution and adaptation as it allows for the transfer of DNA and the acquisition of new genetic traits within bacterial populations.
Common Misspellings for GENETIC TRANSDUCTION
- fenetic transduction
- venetic transduction
- benetic transduction
- henetic transduction
- yenetic transduction
- tenetic transduction
- gwnetic transduction
- gsnetic transduction
- gdnetic transduction
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- gejetic transduction
- gehetic transduction
- genwtic transduction
- genstic transduction
- gendtic transduction
- genrtic transduction
Etymology of GENETIC TRANSDUCTION
The word "genetic" can be traced back to the Latin word "geneticus" and the Greek word "genetikos", both of which mean "producing" or "originating". The term "genetic" is derived from the Latin word "genus", meaning "race" or "kind". It refers to the study of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics.
The term "transduction" comes from the Latin word "transducere", which means "to lead across" or "to bring along". In biology, it refers to the transfer of genetic material from one organism to another through a vector, such as a virus or bacteriophage.
Hence, the term "genetic transduction" combines the concepts of genetics and transduction to describe the process by which genetic material is transferred from one organism to another using a vector-based mechanism.
