Merozygote Cells and Partial Diploidy When new genetic material enters a bacterial cell through conjugation, transformation, or transduction, a merozygote can be formed. Can GTAs also produce a merodiploid cell? Choose the best answer. No, they cannot produce merozygotes because bacterial cells must always be haploid. Yes, they can, but only very briefly because they are integrated back into the chromosome instead of undergoing recombination. Yes, they produce temporary merozygotes between the time the genetic material enters the cell and the time that recombination occurs. No, they cannot produce merozygotes because merozygotes can be produced only when entire genomes (as opposed to the smaller genetic pieces in GTAs) enter cells. Yes, they produce permanent merozygotes because the DNA that they introduce into the cell has a replication origin. Solution The best option would be-Option C. Yes they produce temporary merozygotes between the time the genetic material enters the cell and the time that recombination occurs. GTAs are gene transfer agents encoded by bacterias and they resemble a small bacteriophage.They act like generalized transducing prophages but they lack their own genome rather they take up random fragments of bacterial genome and because of this random fragments they are unable to replicate by their own, so this rules out option E. Merozygotes are partially diploid so this rules out option D as there it says merozygotes can be produce when entire genome enters cells. Option B is not correct because there its mentioned that GTAs are integrated back into the chromosomes but GTA production is a controlled processs and once GTA particles are formed they are released into the environment by cell lysis,instead of getting integrated back..

1. Merozygote Cells and Partial Diploidy When new genetic material enters a bacterial cell
through conjugation, transformation, or transduction, a merozygote can be formed. Can GTAs
also produce a merodiploid cell? Choose the best answer. No, they cannot produce merozygotes
because bacterial cells must always be haploid. Yes, they can, but only very briefly because they
are integrated back into the chromosome instead of undergoing recombination. Yes, they
produce temporary merozygotes between the time the genetic material enters the cell and the
time that recombination occurs. No, they cannot produce merozygotes because merozygotes can
be produced only when entire genomes (as opposed to the smaller genetic pieces in GTAs) enter
cells. Yes, they produce permanent merozygotes because the DNA that they introduce into the
cell has a replication origin.
Solution
The best option would be-Option C. Yes they produce temporary merozygotes between the time
the genetic material enters the cell and the time that recombination occurs.
GTAs are gene transfer agents encoded by bacterias and they resemble a small
bacteriophage.They act like generalized transducing prophages but they lack their own genome
rather they take up random fragments of bacterial genome and because of this random fragments
they are unable to replicate by their own, so this rules out option E.
Merozygotes are partially diploid so this rules out option D as there it says merozygotes can be
produce when entire genome enters cells.
Option B is not correct because there its mentioned that GTAs are integrated back into the
chromosomes but GTA production is a controlled processs and once GTA particles are formed
they are released into the environment by cell lysis,instead of getting integrated back.