Genetics

An unmodified natural isolate of a species

An organism that differs from the wild type as a result of a specific change to its DNA sequence

A specific change in the DNA/RNA sequence of an organism that is different from that in the wild type

Different forms of a gene that arise by mutation and that are found at the same place on a chromosome in both the wild type and in a mutant

An identifiable or observable trait that can be altered by a mutation

The nucleotide sequence of a region of DNA

– Relatively simple organisms – Easy to genetically manipulate – Short generation times – Haploid organisms

It is much easier to identify cells with a particular type of mutation as they have an immediate effect on the behaviour/appearance of the organism

Mutations occur randomly and are passed on by vertical gene transfer

Via vertical gene transfer and lateral gene transfer

Inherit DNA from parents

Inherit DNA from other bacteria / viruses in the environment

The ability of a bacterial cell to take up cell-free DNA from the environment. First discovered in 1928 by Fred Griffith

Gene transfer from one bacterial cell (the donor) to another (the recipient) by direct cell-to-cell contact

Gene transfer mediated by a bacterial virus

DNA makes RNA makes protein

Initiation, elongation, termination

RNA polymerase binds to a promoter sequence in the DNA and starts transcription

RNA polymerase moves along the strand of DNA using the template strand to decode the DNA to RNA

RNA polymerase recognises sequence in the DNA that tells it to stop synthesising RNA

Messenger RNA, ribosomal RNA, transfer RNA

Bidirectional

Base pair changes, frameshifts, deletions, inversions, duplications, insertions

Silent mutation, missense mutation, nonsense mutation