Genetics: Analysis and Principles 5th Edition by Robert Brooker

Exercise 25

In a P1 transduction experiment, the P1 lysate contains phages that carry pieces of the host chromosomal DNA, but the lysate also contains broken pieces of chromosomal DNA (see Figure 7.10). If a P1 lysate is used to transfer chromosomal DNA to another bacterium, how could you show experimentally that the recombinant bacterium has been transduced (i.e., taken up a P1 phage with a piece of chromosomal DNA inside) versus transformed (i.e., taken up a piece of chromosomal DNA that is not within a P1 phage coat)
FIGURE 7.10 Transduction in bacteria. Genes Traits During transduction, a phage carries a segment of bacterial DNA from a donor to a recipient cell. In this case, the phage carried a segment of DNA with the his + gene and transferred this gene to a recipient cell that was originally his (unable to synthesize histidine). Following transduction, the recipient cell became his + , so it now can synthesize histidine.