Bacterial genetics

• What is bacterial genetics?

  The study of hereditary mechanisms and processes in bacteria.
• Why is understanding bacterial genetics important?

  It aids in developing new antibiotics and combating infectious diseases.
• How do bacteria reproduce?

  Through a process called binary fission.
• What happens during binary fission in bacteria?

  The chromosome replicates and the cell divides into two identical daughter cells.
• What is genetics?

  The study of genes, their information, expression, and replication.
• What does microbial genetics focus on?

  The study of gene structure and function in bacteria and microorganisms.
• What is a gene?

  A segment of DNA that codes for a functional product.
• What are chromosomes?

  Cellular structures made up of genes.
• What is a genome?

  All the genetic information in a cell.
• What is a genotype?

  An organism’s genetic makeup.
• What does phenotype refer to?

  An organism’s actual expressed properties.
• What is recombination in genetics?

  A process by which pieces of DNA are broken and recombined.
• What are bacteriophages?

  Viruses that infect and replicate within bacteria.

  
• What is the structure of DNA?

  Double-stranded with complementary bases (A-T; G-C).

  
• How are the strands of DNA oriented?

  One strand runs 5' to 3' and the complementary strand runs 3' to 5'.
• What is the role of complementary bases in DNA?

  They enable one strand to provide information for copying the other strand.
• What forms a nucleotide in DNA?

  A base bonded to phospho-2'-deoxyribose.

  
• What is the structure of RNA?

  Frequently occurs in single-stranded form.
• What replaces thymine in RNA?

  Uracil (U).
• What are the three types of RNA?

  mRNA, rRNA, and tRNA.
• What is the function of mRNA?

  It carries the genetic code from DNA to ribosomes.
• What is the role of rRNA?

  It comprises the ribosome and aids in protein synthesis.
• What does tRNA do?

  Transfers amino acids to ribosomes for protein synthesis.
• What is the structure of bacterial DNA?

  A single circular molecule located in the nucleoid area.
• How many genes does an average bacterium have?

  About 3000 genes.
• What is the function of the nucleoid region in bacteria?

  It compacts the bacterial chromosome and ensures its stability.
• Where is bacterial DNA found?

  Free in the cytoplasm, not bounded by any membrane.
• What does bacterial DNA carry?

  All genetic information necessary for growth and survival.
• What traits does bacterial DNA encode?

  Metabolic enzymes, structural proteins, and regulatory elements.
• What are plasmids?

  Small circular nonchromosomal double-stranded DNA.
• What is a key feature of plasmids?

  They are self-replicating.
• What are transposons also known as?

  Jumping genes.
• What do plasmids contain?

  Genes that confer resistance and virulence factors.
• What is the function of transposons?

  They can move from one location to another within a genome.
• What is intragenomic transposition?

  Movement of transposons within a genome.
• What is intergenomic transposition?

  Movement of transposons between different DNA molecules.
• Can transposons replicate independently?

  No, they are incapable of independent replication.
• What do transposons typically contain?

  Genes encoding enzymes necessary for their transposition.
• What are integrons?

  Genetic elements that capture and express gene cassettes.
• What is the role of the integrase gene in integrons?

  It mediates the site-specific recombination of gene cassettes.