minimal media
contains a carbon source, essential elements such as nitrogen and phosphorus, vitamins and other nutrients
complete media
contains all of the substances required by bacteria for growth and reproduction
prototroph
auxotroph
bacterial genomes
most are a circular chromosome of one DNA molecule several million bp in length
plasmids
episomes
class of plasmids that are capable of free replication and able to integrate into the bacterial chromosome.
Lederberg and Tatum
U-shaped tube
F factor
- contains a number of genes required for conjugation and the formation of a sex pili
F+
- donor cell
F-
- recipient cell
sex pilus
conjugation
1) F+ donor and F- recipient
2) F pili of F+ make contact with F- and cells pulled together. F factor codes for conjugation bridge to form.
3) one strand of DNA cleaved at oriT of F factor
4) rolling circle replication, one strand of F factor transfers to recipient (literally the circle rolls over and reforms)
5) Replication of F factor in both cells. The F- cell is now F+.
Hfr
F’
F+* F-
Two F+ cells (F- becomes F+)
Hfr * F-
One Hfr cell and one F- (no change)
F’ * F-
Two F’ cells (F- cell becomes F’)
F’lac
Interrupted conjugation between Hfr and F-
only a portion of the chromosome will pass into the F- cell and have a chance to recombine with the recipient chromosome.
Chromosome transfers always begin
within the integrated F factor at oriT and proceeds in a continuous direction
genes are transferred according to
their arrangement on the chromosome
the time for individual genes to be transferred
indicates their relative positions on the chromosome