Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in microorganisms is a process where genetic material is exchanged between organisms, as first shown by Frederick Griffith in 1928. This discovery, along with the Hershey-Chase experiment, which established DNA as the genetic material, has paved the way for advances in molecular biology and genetic engineering. Today, technologies like CRISPR-Cas9 are revolutionizing genome editing, with wide-ranging implications in medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology.
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Frederick Griffith's experiment with Streptococcus pneumoniae demonstrated the transfer of genetic material between bacteria, known as horizontal gene transfer
Griffith's experiment with two strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae
Griffith's experiment showed that genetic transformation, where bacteria incorporate genetic material from their environment, can lead to the expression of new traits
The Hershey-Chase experiment and DNA as the genetic material
The Hershey-Chase experiment confirmed DNA as the genetic material through the use of bacteriophages
Transduction, where bacteriophages transfer bacterial DNA to other bacteria, is another form of horizontal gene transfer
The development of affordable sequencing technology has greatly advanced genetic research
The CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system has revolutionized genetic engineering and made it more accessible to researchers
The progress in molecular biology and genetic engineering has led to breakthroughs in medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology
00
While examining ______, Griffith noticed that bacteria could exchange genetic information within the ______.
Streptococcus pneumoniae
same generation
01
The process observed by Griffith, known as ______, is different from the ______ gene transfer outlined by ______.
genetic transformation
vertical
Mendel
02
Genetic transformation allows an organism to acquire new ______ by incorporating ______ from its surroundings.
traits
genetic material
