Bacterial cell genetics

• What is the definition of genetics?

  The study of heredity and variation
• How is genetics used in medicine?

  To understand diseases and develop treatments
• What is the relevance of genetics in medicine?

  It helps in personalized medicine and diagnostics
• What is the main function of mRNA vaccines?

  To instruct cells to produce viral proteins e.g spike protein in covid-19 so your immune system can generate antibodies to fight off the infection if it sees the virus again in the future.
• What is the concept of "One Treatment Fits All" in current medicine?

  A standard treatment for all patients
• What does "More Personalized Diagnostics" refer to in future medicine?

  Tailored diagnostic tests for individuals
• What is the shape of the bacterium *E. coli*?

  Rod-shaped
• What is the primary focus of the learning objectives in bacterial genetics?

  Understanding microbial gene structure and function
• What are the basic building blocks of DNA and RNA?

  Nucleotides
• What are the components of a nucleotide?

  Phosphate group, pentose sugar, nitrogenous base
• How do the two strands of DNA run?

  They run in opposite directions (anti-parallel)
• What are the three types of RNA?

  mRNA, rRNA, tRNA
• What is the role of mRNA?

  To carry genetic information to ribosomes
• What is the function of rRNA?

  To form the core of ribosomes
• What does tRNA do?

  Brings amino acids to the ribosome
• Who first articulated the Central Dogma of molecular biology?

  Francis Crick
• What are the processes involved in the Central Dogma?

  Replication, transcription, translation
• What is the structure of bacterial DNA?

  Circular and double-stranded
• What are plasmids?

  Circular molecules of DNA in bacteria
• What do plasmids frequently contain?

  Virulence factors that contribute to disease susceptibility;

  antibiotic resistance and toxins
• How are plasmids used in biotechnology?

  For gene cloning and recombinant protein production
• What are the types of mutations in bacteria?

  • Spontaneous mutations: arise without external agents
  • Induced mutations: occur after exposure to mutagens
  • Silent mutations: have no visible effect
• What are heritable alterations in the gene sequence called?

  Mutations
• What is the impact of beneficial mutations on bacteria?

  They help organisms adapt to their environment
• What do mutations in bacteria often lead to?

  Antibiotic-resistant strains
• What is the method of gene transfer that involves naked DNA?

  Transformation
• What occurs during transformation in bacteria?

  Naked DNA is taken up by a cell
• When are cells usually competent for transformation?

  In the late log phase
• What is the role of the sex pilus in conjugation?

  To transfer genes between cells
• What does the F Plasmid carry?

  Genes coding for the pilus
• What happens to the recipient strain in conjugation?

  It is converted into a donor cell
• What is transduction in bacteria?

  Transfer of DNA by bacteriophages
• What are the two types of phages involved in transduction?

  Lytic and lysogenic phages
• What do lytic phages do?

  They lyse the host cell
• What do lysogenic phages do?

  They can infect without immediate lysis
• What are the applications of genetic engineering?

  1. Diagnostic tests for pathogens
  2. DNA sequencing and molecular typing
  3. Therapeutic uses of bacteriophages
  4. Social impacts: GMO foods, ecological disruption
• What is the role of bacteriophages in medicine?

  To target and kill multi-drug resistant bacteria
• What method of gene transfer involves direct contact between the bacteria?

  a.Conjugation

  b.Transduction

  c.Transformation

  d.Binary Fission

  a.Conjugation
• Transduction is the transfer of DNA through?

  Bacteriophages
• What makes up the backbone of DNA strands?

  Sugars and phosphate groups joined by ester bonds