Two Bacterial Genes Are Transduced Simultaneously

question 33

Multiple Choice

Two bacterial genes are transduced simultaneously. What does this suggest about their proximity to each other within the original host genome?

• A) Not a thing-it's highly likely that 2 separate virus particles were carrying each gene, and that they coinfected the new target cell at the same time, delivering their genetic payloads. This could mean the 2 original genes might not even be from the same original host cell!
• B) It's highly likely that the 2 genes are located next to each other in the original host cell chromosome. Since transduction relies on either mispackaging of bits of host cell DNA into non-functional virus units, or improper excision of lysogenic phage DNA from a host cell chromosome (carrying parts of the host cell DNA with it), the genes must lie close to each other to be transduced into a new cell simultaneously.
• C) They must be within 5 gene lengths of each other, but not necessarily immediately adjacent. If they were immediately adjacent, the transposons that facilitate the transfer of genetic information between the 2 cells wouldn't be able to 'jump' into them.
• D) It doesn't mean anything. Transduction relies on the ability of a cell to take up foreign DNA. It's possible here that the cell has simply taken up 2 separate bits of DNA at the same time from the surrounding environment.

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