Question

4. Bacteria can share genetic information with each other. How does this make it more difficult to design medications that attack bacterial colonies? (4 points)

Answer 1

The bacteria shares information with the recipient, making it harder to differentiate between the bacteria, and the host.

Step-by-step explanation:

It mates with the recipient's cells and transfers genetic information. Since bacteria is living, it can share this to the host, making it less recognizable. This would make it more difficult to target only the bacteria.

Answer 2

Step-by-step explanation:

Genetic exchanges among bacteria occur by several mechanisms. In transformation, the recipient bacterium takes up extracellular donor DNA. In transduction, donor DNA packaged in a bacteriophage infects the recipient bacterium. In conjugation, the donor bacterium transfers DNA to the recipient by mating.

Genetic information in bacteria and many viruses is encoded in DNA, but some viruses use RNA. Replication of the genome is essential for inheritance of genetically determined traits. Gene expression usually involves transcription of DNA into messenger RNA and translation of mRNA into protein.