Question

suppose DNA from a strain of Bacillus subtilis with the genotype a-bƠd'e. was used to transform a strain with the genotype ab c de. The pairs of genes were then checked for cotransformation and the data below was collected Cotransformation no noyes yes yes noyes no yes no Using the data above, determine the gene order of the bacterial chromosome below ot end End of chromosome

Answer 1

The question involves determining the gene order on a bacterial chromosome using cotransformation data, similar to the method used for gene mapping in E. coli using Hfr strains. The student's data reflects the proximity of genes based on the frequency of their cotransformation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student is asking about the gene order of Bacillus subtilis based on cotransformation data. The process they are referring to is similar to gene mapping of E. coli done using high frequency recombination (Hfr) strains. In these experiments, genes are transferred from an Hfr strain to an F- strain during conjugation, and the order of gene transfer provides clues to their arrangement on the chromosome. To determine the gene order based on cotransformation, one must analyze which genes are transformed together (cotransformed). If genes are often cotransformed, they are likely to be close to each other on the chromosome. If they are seldom cotransformed, they are probably farther apart.

The original experiment by Avery, MacLeod, and McCarty demonstrated that DNA was the molecule responsible for transformation, laying the groundwork for understanding gene mapping and cotransformation. Similarly, in the student's scenario, the cotransformation data indicates the arrangement of genes on the bacterial chromosome, which can be used to map the gene order.