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N09/P2/2
Fig. 1.1 shows the arrangement of the bacterial chromosome and F plasmid in a bacterial cell.
(a)
State two ways in which a plasmid such as the F plasmid differs from the bacterial
chromosome.
1. The plasmid is smaller than bacterial chromosome;
containing fewer genes than bacterial chromosome;
2. Genes found on plasmid may code for antibiotic resistance or pilus formation;
while genes on bacterial chromosome code for enzymes needed for cell
metabolism;
(b)
(i)
[2]
11
[2]
bacterial transformation.
- free ds exogenous DNA binds to DNA binding complexes on cell wall of competent
bacterium;
- one strand degraded, other strand taken up into cell;
- homologous recombination occurs which results in a heteroduplex;
- where one strand has original allele while the other has allele from exogenous
DNA;
(c)
[2]
(d)
[2]
[3]
[Total:11]
SECTION C: FREE RESPONSE QUESTIONS
Please write down your responses on writing papers.
Question 1
N07/P2/Q9
Describe how the prokaryote, E.coli, is able to respond to varying concentrations of
lactose.
[6]
(optional)
- (Lactose metabolism is controlled by enzymes coded for by the lac operon)
- The structural genes involved are lacZ, lacY and lacA which code for beta-galactosidase,
permease and transacetylase respectively;;
12
- (These structural genes are under the control of a single promoter and operator);
- (Therefore, their expression is coordinately regulated depending on the level of lactose in
the cell);
- When lactose levels are low, the lac repressor protein is active;
- and bound to the operator of the operon;
- This prevents binding of RNA polymerase to the promoter;
- and transcription of structural genes is switched off;
- When lactose levels are high, lactose enters the cell (via permease);
- and is converted to allolactose;
- Allolactose acts as an inducer that binds to the lac repressor protein;
- inactivating the protein;
- RNA polymerase can now bind/ access the promoter;
- and transcription of enzymes involved in lactose metabolism is activated;
Question 2
N07/P2/Q9
(a)
1.
2.
3.
4.
13
[8]
(b)
Explain how the presence of lactose in the growth medium switches on the lac
operon.
[8]
(c)
[4]
14
EXTRA/SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTIONS
Question 1
C
B
A
E
A
F
Fig. 1.1
(a)
(bi)
Name structures A H.
A flagella;
B plasma membrane;
C ribosomes;
D pili;
E plasmid;
G cytoplasm/ cytosol;
[4]
Name the region in the cell where bacterial chromosome can be found.
nucleoid;;
[1]
(bii) Explain how the chromosome is packed into the region stated in (b)(i).
- bacterial chrom is circular;
- negative supercoiling;
- highly compacted;
- due to formation of loop domains;
- association with histone-like proteins;
- for DNA to bend for compaction;
(c)
[3]
[1]
15
(d)
(e)
[4]
Name an organelle in eukaryotic cells that has similar properties as a bacterial cell.
Mitochondrion / chloroplast;;
(because it contains own DNA)
[1]
[Total:14]
Question 2
(a)
Distinguish between structural and regulatory genes in a prokaryotic genome, and give an
example for each.
- structural genes a region of DNA that codes for a protein or RNA molecule that
forms part of a structure or has an enzymatic function;;
- e.g. lac Z gene;
- regulatory genes a region of DNA that codes for specific prot that regulates
expression of structural genes;;
- e.g. lac I gene;
[3]
16
(b)
Q
R
Fig. 2
(c)
promoter;
operator;
mRNA;
[2]
Describe the negative control mechanism of lac operon in the presence of lactose and
absence of glucose.
- in presence of lactose and absence of glucose, basal levels of -galactosidase
within bacteria converts lactose to allolactose;
- allolactose binds to active repressor causing it to change conformation;
- repressor can no longer bind to operator;
- RNA pol can access promoter and proceeds to structural genes lac Z, Y, A;
- since repressor is inactive in presence of inducer allolactose resulting in activation
of transcription;
- and repressor is active in absence of inducer allolactose resulting in inhibition
of transcription, lac operon is said to be under NEGAIVE control;
(d)
State and describe one process through which genetic diversity can be achieved in bacteria.
Any 1 of the following with correct descriptions:
(1)
[3]
- conjugation;
17
transduction;
- a bacteriophage transfers bacterial genes from one host cell to another;
- generalized erroneous packaging of lysed host genome into capsid during
assembly of viral progeny;
- specialized erroneous excision of specific part of bacterial genome near to
prophage during lytic induction from lysogenic cycle;
- viral progeny containing bacterial genome re-infect other host cells;
- recombination b/w homologous regions of host genome gives rise to recombinant
bacteria;
(3)
transformation;
- uptake of exogenous/ foreign DNA into cell;
- dsDNA binds to specific cell surface receptors of competent bacterium;
- 1 DNA strand degraded, other strand enters bacteria;
- recombination b/w homologous regions of bacterial chrom and exogenous DNA;
- heteroduplex forms, where 1 strand has original allele, other strand has alleles from
exogenous DNA;
[3]
[Total:11]
Question 3
Fig. 3.1
18
(a)
(bi)
[2]
[6]
(ci)
[1]
High frequency of recombinant (Hfr) cells are capable of transferring chromosomal DNA
to a F- cell. Describe how this may occur.
- F plasmid integrated into chromosomal DNA;
- F plasmid contains origin of transfer;
- during conjugation, ssDNA thats being transferred includes part of bacterial
genome DNA;
- chromosomal DNA of Hfr bacteria gets transferred to F- strain;
19
(cii)
[4]
Feature
F+
Hfr
Integrated into
chromosomal DNA
Extrachromosomal
DNA
Transfer of DNA
Transferred part of
chromosomal DNA
with genes from
bacteria to F- cell
Only F plasmid
transferred to F- cell
Transfer of F factor
Part of F factor
transferred
Whole factor
transferred
sterile
fertile
[5]
(d)
Compare and contrast the process in (bi) with transduction and transformation.
Similarities
Differences
Feature
Conjugation
20
Transduction
Bacteriophages
during
erroneous
excision of
Transformation
From
surrounding
medium where
lysed bacteria
genome/
packaging of
genome into
capsid
genome is free
Fragment
transferred
F+ transfer
whole F plasmid
to F- cell
Part of the
bacteriophageinfected genome
is transferred to
another bacteria
Usually small
fragment since
floating
fragments would
have been
degraded prior
entry into cell
Process
Active via
formation of sex
pili from F+/ Hfr
cell
Active via
transfer by
bacteriophages
Passive, taken
up from
surrounding
medium
[7]
[Total:25]
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