transzdukcó

Transzdukció is a biological process where genetic material is transferred from one bacterium to another by a virus. This process is a form of horizontal gene transfer, meaning genetic information is passed between organisms that are not parent and offspring. The viruses responsible for transzdukció are called bacteriophages, or simply phages.

There are two main types of transzdukció: generalized and specialized. In generalized transzdukció, during the replication cycle of a phage within a bacterium, the phage mistakenly packages a random piece of the host bacterium's DNA into its capsid instead of its own viral DNA. When this phage infects a new bacterium, it injects the bacterial DNA it carries. This fragment of bacterial DNA can then be integrated into the recipient bacterium's genome.

Specialized transzdukció occurs when a phage integrates its genetic material into the host bacterium's chromosome, a process known as lysogeny. When the prophage excises itself from the host DNA to begin a lytic cycle, it can sometimes mistakenly take a small segment of adjacent bacterial DNA with it. This specific bacterial DNA is then packaged into new phage particles and can be transferred to other bacteria. Specialized transzdukció typically transfers only genes that are located close to the phage integration site on the bacterial chromosome.

Transzdukció plays a significant role in bacterial evolution by facilitating the spread of genes, including those that confer antibiotic resistance or other advantageous traits, among bacterial populations. It is also a valuable tool in molecular biology research for transferring specific genes between bacteria.