Horizontal Gene Transfer Quiz

What is the main difference between vertical and horizontal gene transfer?

• Horizontal transfer is only found in bacteria, vertical is found in all organisms.

• Horizontal transfer involves sexual reproduction, vertical involves asexual reproduction.

• Vertical transfer is from parent to offspring, horizontal is between existing organisms.

• Vertical transfer occurs between different species, horizontal within the same species.

Which process involves the uptake of free DNA from the environment by a bacterium?

• Conjugation

• Transduction

• Transformation

• Replication

What is required for a bacterial cell to undergo transformation?

• Infection by a bacteriophage

• A viral vector

• Competence to take up DNA

• Presence of a sex pilus

How can competence be induced in bacterial cells in the lab?

• By using a sex pilus

• Through viral infection

• By chemical modifications

• By natural selection

In transduction, what role do bacteriophages play?

• They act as a bridge for direct DNA transfer.

• They carry genetic material between cells.

• They induce competence in bacterial cells.

• They replicate autonomously within the host.

What is a common laboratory use of viral vectors?

• To integrate genes into eukaryotic genomes

• To induce competence in bacteria

• To replicate plasmid DNA

• To form sex pili between cells

What is required for conjugation to occur between bacterial cells?

• A viral vector

• Free DNA in the environment

• A bacteriophage

• Cell-to-cell contact

What is the role of the sex pilus in conjugation?

• To encapsulate bacterial DNA

• To connect donor and recipient cells

• To induce competence

• To transfer viral DNA

What distinguishes an F-positive cell in bacterial conjugation?

• It has the fertility factor on an F plasmid.

• It is infected by a viral vector.

• It contains a bacteriophage.

• It can uptake free DNA from the environment.

After conjugation, what happens to the recipient cell?

• It is infected by a bacteriophage.

• It becomes competent.

• It becomes F-positive.

• It releases free DNA into the environment.