Read the short article Horizontal Gene Transfer in E Coli and answer the following questions.(https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/05/150519105900.htm) Remember to use your own words; plagiarism of any kind will not be tolerated (see syllabus for further information on what constitutes plagiarism). (1) What is horizontal gene transfer (HGT)? (2) In the posted article, how many gene transfer elements were found for E. coli O104:H4? (3) What is the source of these gene transfer elements? (4) Should we be concerned about HGT in prokaryotes? If so, why? Solution (1) Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is the lateral gene movement, wherein the movement of genetic material takes place between unicellular or multicellular organisms across species. This gene transfer is different from the vertical gene transfer in which the transmission of DNA occurs from parent to offspring. Often genetic material swaping occurs between bacteria of same as well as different species, through this means by aquiring one of the processes; transformation, transduction or conjugation. During HGT, plasmids, transposons or integrons act as vectors that transfer genes. (2) In the given article, the team from Madurai Kamaraj University in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, identified 38 gene transfer elements for E. coli O104:H4. (3) The research team identified 38 gene transfer prophage elements for E.coli O104:H4. They showed that the these elements act as genetic weapons protecting the bacteria from antibiotics. The source of these elements were viruses (the bacteriophages), that infect bacteria, and in the process bacteria aquired these elements from viruses. (4) In prokaryotes, horizontal gene transfer is a major concern. Aquisition of new genes through HGT is ability of Bacteria and Archaea to adapt to new changing environments. Druing HGT, genes that are responsible for antibiotic resistance in one species of bacteria can be transferred to another species of bacteria, and is the primary reason for the spread of antibiotic resistance. Besides antibiotic resistance, HGT also gives bacteria an ability to degrade novel compounds (such as different insecticides and pesticides). Thus the bacterial strains after HGT are much more dangerous as they are multi drug resistant and more virulent. These transfer elements when transferred to a pathogenic bacteia, can become a serious health hazard as they are resistant to antibiotics available with us and thus cannot be trated easily..

1. Read the short article Horizontal Gene Transfer in E Coli and answer the following
questions.(https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/05/150519105900.htm) Remember to
use your own words; plagiarism of any kind will not be tolerated (see syllabus for further
information on what constitutes plagiarism).
(1) What is horizontal gene transfer (HGT)?
(2) In the posted article, how many gene transfer elements were found for E. coli O104:H4?
(3) What is the source of these gene transfer elements?
(4) Should we be concerned about HGT in prokaryotes? If so, why?
Solution
(1) Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is the lateral gene movement, wherein the movement of
genetic material takes place between unicellular or multicellular organisms across species. This
gene transfer is different from the vertical gene transfer in which the transmission of DNA
occurs from parent to offspring. Often genetic material swaping occurs between bacteria of same
as well as different species, through this means by aquiring one of the processes; transformation,
transduction or conjugation. During HGT, plasmids, transposons or integrons act as vectors that
transfer genes.
(2) In the given article, the team from Madurai Kamaraj University in Madurai, Tamil Nadu,
identified 38 gene transfer elements for E. coli O104:H4.
(3) The research team identified 38 gene transfer prophage elements for E.coli O104:H4. They
showed that the these elements act as genetic weapons protecting the bacteria from antibiotics.
The source of these elements were viruses (the bacteriophages), that infect bacteria, and in the
process bacteria aquired these elements from viruses.
(4) In prokaryotes, horizontal gene transfer is a major concern. Aquisition of new genes through
HGT is ability of Bacteria and Archaea to adapt to new changing environments. Druing HGT,
genes that are responsible for antibiotic resistance in one species of bacteria can be transferred to
another species of bacteria, and is the primary reason for the spread of antibiotic resistance.
Besides antibiotic resistance, HGT also gives bacteria an ability to degrade novel compounds
(such as different insecticides and pesticides). Thus the bacterial strains after HGT are much
more dangerous as they are multi drug resistant and more virulent. These transfer elements when
transferred to a pathogenic bacteia, can become a serious health hazard as they are resistant to
antibiotics available with us and thus cannot be trated easily.