1. Based on Chapter 2: Of Microbes and Men (Pages 28 – 51)
a. Describe in details the four ways in which bacteria increase their genetic diversity. (10 points)
One of the four ways that bacteria can increase their genetic diversity is by conjugation. This is a process by which a bacterium can transfer genetic material to another bacterium of different mating type, through direct contact. During conjugation one bacterium is going to be the receptor of the genetic material while the other is going to be the donor. The donor bacterium is going to grow a tube-like structure called a pilus, which is going to be used to contact the other bacterium and to transfer the genetic material. Usually these genetic material is going to have the form of plasmid, which are small circular pieces of non-chromosomal DNA. Another method that bacteria have developed in order to acquire different DNA is transformation. These is a process by which some bacteria can get pieces of DNA from the external environment, under certain circumstances. Transformation occur naturally in Bacillus, and some Streptococcus and Staphylococcus species. The third means by which bacteria obtain new DNA is by the acquisition of plasmids. These plasmids can travel between bacteria of the same or different species, and the act like parasitic pieces of DNA that infect bacteria. Usually these plasmids are not required for the normal function of bacteria and is often expel by them, unless it contains material beneficial
This pBlu lab had for purpose to present the changes of the strain of E. coli bacteria due to new genetic information being introduced into the cell. In this experiment we are freezing and heat shocking the E. Coli bacteria that is then forced to take the plasmid DNA. The E. coli then transforms the pBLu plasmid, which carries the genes coding for two identifiable phenotypes. After following the Carolina Biological steps our lab worked well and we able to see some colonies of bacteria on the plates. The x-gal plate showed a significant amount of bacteria to confirm that the pBlu plasmid took over the E. coli strain.
Many pathogenic bacteria species are becoming resistant to antibiotic. Explain how such adaptations can develop through the process of natural selection.
This lab is about moving genes from one thing to another using plasmids. Plasmid has the ability to replicate, so it replicates independently, and separately from the chromosomal DNA. Plasmid are one or more small piece of DNA and they enter cells as a double strand DNA. When they enter the cell as a doubke strand they do not invade he chromosomal DNA. We will also transform bacteria into GFP which is mainly from the jelly fish Aequorea Victoria. The GFP causes the the jelly fish to fluorescent and glow in the dark. After the transformation, bacteria starts to make the GFP which causes them to glow a green color under a ultraviolet light.
134). They are loops of DNA that are separate from the chromosomal DNA and can self-replicate in a cell, found mostly in bacteria (Brown, 2011; Addgene, 2015). Lederberg and William Hayes discovered that plasmids were being transferred from one cell to another, not the chromosomal DNA (Brown, 2011, p. 135). This discovery lead to plasmids being an essential tool for scientists. Scientists can engineer plasmids to have specific genes to introduce into new cells (Brown, 2011, p. 134). On a plasmid loop there will be an origin of replication (ORI) and a multiple cloning site (MCS) where the gene of interest is inserted (Bio-Rad, 2015). This region has specific restriction enzyme recognition sites, which are cut by the enzymes to open up the DNA where the new gene will be inserted (Jove Science Education Database, 2015). Most plasmids will also contain an antibiotic resistance gene allowing cell survival in environments containing antibiotics (Jove Science Education Database, 2015).
Many pathogenic bacteria species are becoming resistant to antibiotic. Explain how such adaptations can develop through the process of natural selection.
7. List several functions for the outer membrane in gram-negative bacteria. What is the chemical composition of the outer membrane?
Lab Report Assistant This document is not meant to be a substitute for a formal laboratory report. The Lab Report Assistant is simply a summary of the experiment’s questions, diagrams if needed, and data tables that should be addressed in a formal lab report. The intent is to facilitate students’ writing of lab reports by providing this information in an editable file which can be sent to an instructor.
One of the most imperative functions in maintaining the development of evolution is the frequency of genetic transformation: the injection of foreign DNA into another organism’s DNA. This term is defined by the actions of a vector, but more specifically by the actions of plasmids and phages. However, in this experiment we are primarily focused on the effect of the pGLO plasmid transformation of GFP on the E. coli bacteria by introducing a second chromosome or a plethora of cloned plasmids. (Bassiri 2011)
For this experiment, E. coli was best for genetic engineering because of their size, and their fast reproduction (Spilios, 2017). E. coli will be genetically transformed using an engineered plasmid. A plasmid is a circular piece of DNA which independently replicates and multiplies because it has its own origin of replication (Spilios, 2017). The pGLO is the plasmid used in this experiment. Plasmids are used as vectors and they contain manipulated genes such as genes coding for antibiotic resistance for drugs like ampicillin. This antibiotic resistance of such serves as the selectable marker in genetic transformation and for genetic transformation to proceed, the cell must reach competency which is the physiological state that is required for the vector plasmid to get into the cell for transformation (Spilios, 2017). While competency can be reached naturally in some organism, it must be reached artificially in E. coli through treatment with CaCl2 and exposing them to heat shock using incubation (Spilios, 2017).
Abstract When performing this lab, we demonstrated that Ecoli bacteria could have its DNA changed through a process called transformation. We inserted a plasmid for pGLO into the DNA of bacteria through a method know as heat shock. The pGLO was inserted in order to alter the phenotipic characteristics of that bacteria, and manipulate it's genetic code, so that it would glow when exposed to an ultra violet light.
Plasmids are small double stranded circular non chromosomal DNA molecules containing their own origin of replication. Hence, they are capable of replication independent of the chromosomal DNA in bacteria. Plasmids present in one or more copies per cell, can carry extra chromosomal DNA from one cell to another cell and serve as tools to clone and manipulate genes. Plasmids used exclusively for this purpose are known as vectors. The genes of interest can be inserted into these vector plasmids creating a recombinant plasmid. Recombinant plasmids can play a significant role in gene therapy, DNA vaccination, and drug delivery [Rapley, 2000].
The aim of this exercise is to equip the student with the knowledge and skill necessary for conducting microscopic observations. It is also intended to teach the student the various sizes and shapes of several different types of bacteria.
Abstract:Conjugation is a natural occurring process that involves the transfer of DNA from one cell into another through a physical connection between the cells. In the following experiment, two strains of Escherichia coli bacterial cells (donor F'lac+strs and recipient F-lac-strr) underwent conjugation to produce a transconjugant strain (F'lac+strr). MAC plates and streptomycin were utilized to determine if conjugation had occurred. When plated, the donor colonies appeared red and the recipient colonies appeared white. The transconjugant plates showed red and white colonies. Using alkaline lysis miniprep, a DNA plasmid was isolated from the donor and transconjugant strains and FIGE electrophoresis was used to determine the size of the
In this laboratory experiment, we was introduce to an introduction to streaking and spreading of bacteria in agar plates such that single cells can be isolated from one another, each cell can reproduces to form a visible colony composed of genetically identical clones. Streaking and spreading bacteria is to obtain individual colonies is usually the first step in genetic manipulation of microorganisms.
Bacterial transformation is the process of moving genes from a living thing to another with the help of a plasmid.The plasmid is able to help replicate the chromosomes by themselves; laboratories use these to aid in gene multiplication. Bacterial transformation is relevant in everyday lives due to the fact that almost all plasmids carry a bacterial origin of replication and an antibiotic resistance gene(“Addgene: Protocol - How to Do a Bacterial