Molecular Genetics of Prokaryotes Problem Set

Problem 5: DNA transfer by an F factor

An E. coli strain is F lac Z met bio. Cells from this strain are mixed with an E. coli strain that is lac Z met bio and carrying an F' episome with the Plac O lac Z DNA sequence on the episome, and cultured for several hours. Then cells were removed, washed, and transferred to minimal media containing lactose as the only sugar source. A few cells were able to grow on minimal media with lactose, and formed colonies. How did these few cells become lac Z met bio?

A. transformation.
B. transduction.
C. sexduction, a special type of conjugation.
D. conjugation.
E. transposition.


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Updated: July 15, 1999
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