Merozygote
Encyclopedia
Merozygote is a state when a cell, usually bacterial, is temporarily diploid as result of DNA transfer processes like conjugation
.
One example of how merozygotes can be formed is the transfer of genetic material
during an HFR transformation. In HFR transformation, an F+ prokaryote transfers its F-factor into an Hfr cell
. This F-factor plasmid is incorporated into Hfr DNA. When Hfr mates with an F- cell, the chromosome acts as a rolling circle transferring information across a sex pilus
. The F-factor is the last thing on the circle and often isn't transferred to the F- cell, so it remains an F- cell, but has all the extra genetic information
from the transferred Hfr chromosome. This temporary partial diploid of the DNA may lead to recombination between the corresponding portions of the DNA, so that the genetic material of the donor may be incorporated into the chromosome of the recipient, thereby altering the genotype of the recipient. However, if no recombination occurs, the linear fragment of donor DNA in the recipient cytoplasm will be lost after one cycle. These merozygotes help to study dominance variation and mutation can be known.
Bacterial conjugation
Bacterial conjugation is the transfer of genetic material between bacterial cells by direct cell-to-cell contact or by a bridge-like connection between two cells...
.
One example of how merozygotes can be formed is the transfer of genetic material
during an HFR transformation. In HFR transformation, an F+ prokaryote transfers its F-factor into an Hfr cell
Hfr cell
An Hfr cell is a bacterium with a conjugative plasmid integrated into its genomic DNA. Hfr is the abbreviation for high frequency recombination, which was first characterized by Luca Cavalli-Sforza...
. This F-factor plasmid is incorporated into Hfr DNA. When Hfr mates with an F- cell, the chromosome acts as a rolling circle transferring information across a sex pilus
Pilus
right|thumb|350px|Schematic drawing of bacterial conjugation. 1- Donor cell produces pilus. 2- Pilus attaches to recipient cell, brings the two cells together. 3- The mobile plasmid is nicked and a single strand of DNA is then transferred to the recipient cell...
. The F-factor is the last thing on the circle and often isn't transferred to the F- cell, so it remains an F- cell, but has all the extra genetic information
DNA sequence
The sequence or primary structure of a nucleic acid is the composition of atoms that make up the nucleic acid and the chemical bonds that bond those atoms. Because nucleic acids, such as DNA and RNA, are unbranched polymers, this specification is equivalent to specifying the sequence of...
from the transferred Hfr chromosome. This temporary partial diploid of the DNA may lead to recombination between the corresponding portions of the DNA, so that the genetic material of the donor may be incorporated into the chromosome of the recipient, thereby altering the genotype of the recipient. However, if no recombination occurs, the linear fragment of donor DNA in the recipient cytoplasm will be lost after one cycle. These merozygotes help to study dominance variation and mutation can be known.