Growth and Genetic Exchange of Bacteria
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For many years it was thought that bacteria, dividing by binary fission, had no opportunity for the exchange of genetic material and could only adapt and evolve through mutation of genes.
GROWTH AND GENETIC EXCHANGE
For many years it was
thought that bacteria, dividing by binary fission, had no opportunity for the
exchange of genetic material and could only adapt and evolve through mutation
of genes. This is not only untrue but masks the profound ability of bacteria to
exchange and share DNA across diverse genera. This is of particular significance
because it enables bacterial populations to adapt rapidly to changes in their
environment, whether this is related to the appearance of a novel food or to
the deployment of antibacterial chemicals and antibiotics. Three major
processes of genetic exchange can be identified in bacteria—transformation,
transduction and conjugation.
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