Transdukcije

Transdukcije (transductions) is a term used across several disciplines to denote the transfer or conversion of signals, energy, or information from one form to another through a transducing element or process. The precise meaning depends on the field, but the common idea is that an input is interpreted and transformed into an output.

In genetics, transdukcije typically refers to bacteriophage-mediated transfer of genetic material between bacteria. Generalized transduction can carry any donor gene, whereas specialized transduction transfers genes adjacent to the phage integration site. Transduction is a major mechanism of horizontal gene transfer and has played a key role in microbial evolution and antibiotic resistance. The phenomenon was demonstrated in the 1950s by Lederberg and Zinder.

In cellular biology, transdukcije often denotes signal transduction, the process by which an extracellular signal is converted into an intracellular response. This includes signaling cascades initiated by receptor types such as G protein-coupled receptors and receptor tyrosine kinases, ultimately affecting gene expression, metabolism, or cell behavior.

In sensory physiology, transdukcije refers to the conversion of external stimuli into neural signals, as in phototransduction in the retina or mechanotransduction in auditory and somatosensory systems. In engineering and physics, transdukcije describes the operation of a transducer, for example a microphone turning sound into an electrical signal or a solar cell converting light to electricity.

Originating from Latin transducere, meaning to lead across, the term is used in many related contexts. See also transducer and signal transduction.