16. Microbial Genetics

What does it mean when a bacterial cell is naturally competent?

Bacterial cells can become competent in two ways, which are:

DNA transformation in bacteria is an important tool for DNA modification and cloning experiments. If the DNA being transformed by the bacteria contains antibiotic resistance genes, how does this help the scientists?

Match the following terms to the definitions in questions 1 and 2.

a. conjugation

b. transcription

c. transduction

d. transformation

e. translation

Transfer of DNA from a donor to a recipient as naked DNA in solution.

Which of the following is the fourth basic step to genetically modify a cell?

a. transformation

b. ligation

c. plasmid cleavage

d. restriction-enzyme digestion of gene

e. isolation of gene

If you put a gene in a virus, the next step in genetic modification would be

a. insertion of a plasmid.

b. transformation.

c. transduction.

d. PCR.

e. Southern blotting.

Cells that can be transformed are said to be ___________.