You Are Studying Swimming Motility in a Pathogenic Bacillus

question 3

Essay

You are studying swimming motility in a pathogenic bacillus.You create mutations in random genes and then test which mutations effect swimming motility by looking at the mutant cells under the microscope.One of the mutant bacteria can not swim anymore,but still rotates around in a one spot when you watch them.Using electron microscopy you discover that some parts of the flagella are still present in the cell wall,but no long flagella are visible.Which gene do you think is mutated (i.e.,missing)and which motility-related parts are still present in this mutant?

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Definitions:

Geographic Distance

The physical space between two points on the Earth's surface, often influencing ecological and evolutionary processes.

Subdivision

The act of dividing a larger area, category, or organization into smaller, more manageable parts.

Hardy-Weinberg Equation

A fundamental principle in genetics that provides a mathematical relationship to predict the genetic variation and allele frequencies in a population under certain conditions, showing that allele frequencies in a sexually reproducing population remain constant from one generation to the next in the absence of other evolutionary influences.

Heterozygotes

Individuals having two different alleles of a particular gene, resulting in a genetic variation.