Sexual Reproduction in Bacteria.

1.  Sexual Reproduction in Bacteria
Sexual reproduction, the production of new organisms by the combination of genetic
information of two individuals of different sexes
 Types
There are 3 ways bacteria reproduce sexually, these are:
 Transformation
In transformation, a bacterium takes up DNA from its
environment and often DNA that’s been shed by another
bacteria. The phenomenon was first discovered by Griffith in
1928 and the mechanism was worked out by Avery in 1944.
 Transduction
In this type of sexual reproduction of bacteria, foreign genes
are transferred into a bacterial cell with the help of a
virus. These viruses are called bacteriophages and they are
not virulent. The virus acts as a carrier vehicle and passes
over genes from one host to another.
 Conjugation
Bacteria that show conjugation are dimorphic, meaning that
they have two types of cells, one male (F+) or donor cell and
a female (F-) or recipient cell.
The male or donor cell possesses 1 to 4 sex pili on the
surface and fertility factor (transfer factor, sex factor) in
its plasmid. It contains genes for producing sex pili and
other characteristics needed for gene transfer. Sex pili are
1to 4 narrow protoplasmic outgrowths. The sex pili and
fertility factors are absent from the female or recipient
cells.