Mechanism of conjugation
B.Sc.Microbiology
Paper CC-8 (Microbial Genetics)
Dear students,
Conjugation differs from transformation in the fact that in the former physical contact is established between two different strains through a conjugation tube. The genetic material from the donor cell (male) is transferred to the recipient (female) cell. There are special appendages present on bacterial cell surface which are called sex pilus or F pilus which forms the conjugation tube.
The fertility (F) factor enables the cell to act as donor. The F factor of donor cell includes the information’s of sex pili the number of which varies from 1 to 3. The cells containing an autonomous F are referred to as F+ cells. It replicates independently. There are only 1-3 copies of F factor per cell.
For further queries, you can call me.
Thank you.
