The exchange of genetic material takes place through the process of conjugation

Yes, the exchange of genetic material takes place through the coupling process in bacteria. Conjugation is the transfer of genetic material from one bacterium to another through intercellular communication. Scientists have discovered that genetic material such as factor F or "fertility factor" can be transmitted between E. coli cells.

There are many conjugated plasmids carried by different bacterial species, and the exchange of genetic material through the conjugation process is carried through multiple steps:

• Pair formation
• Conjugated DNA synthesis
• DNA transfer
• Ripening

In conjugation, genetic material is transferred from one cell to another. The donor cell approaches the recipient cell through a structure called bacterial hairs. DNA is transported between cells. In most cases in the pairing process, DNA is transferred in the form of a plasmid.

Donor cells work in this way because they contain a piece of DNA called the fertility factor (or F factor). This piece encodes the proteins that make up sex. It also has a special site where DNA begins during the pairing process.

After the receiving cell receives the fertility factor, it turns into fertility factor positive and synthesizes its own bacterial hairs in order to transfer DNA and genetic material to other cells.

To make the idea very easy and close to understanding, we can liken the exchange of genetic material through the process of pairing with vampire films, where a vampire can also turn others into vampires just by biting them. This idea is only to simplify the understanding of this information.

Steps to exchange genetic material through the pairing process

In order for fertility plasmid or factor F to be transferred, a connection must occur between the donor cell and the recipient cell. Fertility plasmid is a double-stranded DNA molecule in the form of a circular structure. The exchange of genetic material is carried out through the following steps:

• The F+ fertility factor in the donor cell produces the bacterial capillament, these bacterial hairs emerge from the cell and begin to communicate with the receiving cell.
• Bacterial hairs help form a direct connection between donor cells that contain fertility factor and receptor cells that have a negative fertility factor.
• Since the fertility factor consists of a double-stranded DNA in the form of a circular structure (that is, it is connected at both ends and connected to each other). To obtain the genetic material, the receiving cell needs an enzyme (such as Relaxase or the relaxation enzyme that is present in prokaryotes and viruses and this enzyme forms complexes with other proteins) that cuts one of the DNA strands of the double plasmid and this sequence (called the T chain) is transferred to the receiving cell
• In the final step of the pairing of bacteria, after the donor cell gives one of the double DNA strands to the receiving cell. Each has one strand of DNA left. So both cells replicate DNA and form a double-stranded plasmid that matches the original plasmid. Since plasmid F contains genetic instructions for the production of bacterial hairs. The cell that was only the recipient is now a donor cell capable of transferring the genetic material to another bacterial cell through conjugation and repeating the same processes in which it obtained fertility plasmides. [3]

The pairing process can alter a whole group of bacteria and turn them into donor cells. Some types of plasmids require certain properties in order to be transmitted between the same species only, while others can be transmitted between different types of bacteria and are called mixed plasmids.

Results of exchange of genetic material through the process of conjugation

In bacteria, the conjugation process occurs very quickly, and the genetic material is transferred very quickly between living organisms. Some pairing processes take no more than a few minutes for some organisms.

This means that bacteria can multiply in very short time and in record time, and this can be associated with a lot of random mutations. The results include:

• Rapid development
• Antibiotic resistance
• Utilization of bacterial conjugation in bioengineering

Rapid evolution: The rapid evolution of bacteria means that bacteria can adapt very easily to different climate changes, and this is positive, but for bacteria and not for us, especially if this type is harmful and causes many infections to humans.

Antibiotic resistance: The most important result for humans in the process of exchanging genetic material through the pairing process is antibiotic resistance. Because a gene that is associated with resistance to antibiotics such as penicillins and tetracyclines is most commonly found on plasmids that are transferred from the carrier cell of the recipient cell.

In the past, bacteria were not resistant to antibiotics, but as a result of human error and random antibiotic use, a series of antibiotic-resistant plasmids were produced. This led to the diffusion of antibiotic resistance genes. Worse, bacterial chains are emerging that are resistant to most antibiotics.

An example of this is seen in tuberculosis bacteria, which are resistant to many antibiotics and pose a significant threat to urban health.

Utilization of bacterial conjugation in bioengineering: Not all effects of bacterial conjugation are negative, but can be widely used in bioengineering.

The benefits include the ability to transfer long strands of DNA without damaging the cell wall, and from this point of view scientists have been able to transfer many genetic sequences not only between bacteria but also between plant cells, mammals and fungi.

Mechanisms of exchange of genetic material in bacteria

Conjugation is not the only way to exchange genetic material in bacteria, but there are many other ways such as:

• Tobacco
• Conjunction

Hyperglycosis: The process of transferring genetic material from one bacterium to another through a virus or viral vector. This process is considered an effective process for the transfer of genetic material because the DNA carried on the viral vector is protected from damage from the environment or various enzymes.

Conjugation: The process of transferring DNA from one cell to another through the mediation of plasmids. This is done from the donor cell containing fertility plasmid to the cells giving fertility plasmide negative. This process was first discovered on Streptococcus pneumoniae by scientist Frederick Griffiths.