Bacteria - transfer of genetic material

Thursday we will continue discussing bacteria and how their genetics AND their environment affect their ability to grow and survive.

Bacteria have 3 ways to increase their genetic diversity (for example 3 ways to gain resistance to an antibiotic)

1. Conjugation - 2 bacterial cells temporarily join and directly transfer genetic material between them (Textbook)

2. Transduction - involves viruses that infect bacteria. Virus carries genes from one cell to another

3. Transformation - Bacteria take up pieces of DNA from the ENVIRONMENT.

What do bacteria need to grow?

Nutrients such as: amino acids and sugars, Time

Space, Oxygen (some bacteria), pH, temperature (favorable environments)