Bacterial Reproduction
Introduction
Bacteria can reproduce in one of two ways:
1. Asexually2.Sexually
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Asexual ReproductionBinary Fission:• one parent involved• offspring are identical to parent & each other
Advantages:1. simple: only 1 parent2. offspring are fully formed (no maturation needed)3. very fast (20 min. in ideal conditions)
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Asexual Reproduction
Disadvantages:• no genetic variety• one unfavourable environmental condition can wipe out
whole population
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Asexual Reproduction
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Binary Fission:
Sexual Reproduction• two parents involved• offspring are genetically different
to parents & to each otherAdvantages:
– genetic variety i.e. some are able to adapt to unfavourable conditions (ex: antibiotic resistance)
Disadvantages:1.more complex: slower because must find a compatible
partner
2.no new individuals produced (i.e. no increase in population)
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Bacterial Conjugation
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• plasmid copies itself• passes through pili (cytoplasmic bridge) into recipient cell
•cells separate with both cells containing the plasmid
plasmid
donor recipient cell (+) cell ( - )
pili
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