Question

Two cultures of bacteria are separated by a filter that blocks the movement of cells but allows free exchange of anything smaller than a bacterial cell. On one side of the filter, a sample of penicillin resistant cells in culture broth is added, on the second side of the tube, a culture of penicillin sensitive cells in culture is added. After 24 hours, resistant cells appear on the side with the cells sensitive to penicillin. Which three genetic mechanisms can account for appearance of the penicillin resistant cells?

a. transformation, transduction, and conjugation

b. transformation, transduction, and mutation

c. transformation, conjugation, and mutation

d. transduction, conjugation, and mutation

Answer 1

Three genetic mechanisms that can account for the appearance of penicillin-resistant cells are transformation, transduction, and mutation.

Step-by-step explanation:

The three genetic mechanisms that can account for the appearance of penicillin resistant cells are transformation, transduction, and mutation.

Transformation is a process in which bacteria take up and incorporate external genetic material, such as plasmids, into their own genome. This can lead to the acquisition of new traits, including antibiotic resistance.

Transduction is a process in which genetic material is transferred between bacteria by viruses called bacteriophages. If a bacteriophage carries a gene for antibiotic resistance, it can transfer that gene to a susceptible bacterium, resulting in the development of resistance.

Mutation is a spontaneous change in the DNA sequence of a bacterium. This can lead to the development of resistance if the mutation confers a survival advantage in the presence of antibiotics.