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Conjugation

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Genetics of Bacteria

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Abstract

From the time bacterial cells could be observed through a microscope, bacteriologists have tried to view and depict the cells indulging in sexual reproduction on a purely morphological basis. Although many of these studies suggested cell–cell contact the results could not be validated as they lacked a genetic basis. Designed crosses were conducted in bacteria by Sherman and Wing (1937) and Gowen and Lincoln (1942), but the characteristics taken into consideration were too complicated to evaluate their outcome. One of the hallmarks of sexual reproduction established in eukaryotes is the exchange of genetic material from two potentially different genomes. This process known as recombination produces new combinations of genes, allowing a mechanism of gene reassortment within the population and maintenance of genetic heterogeneity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Genetics, University of Delhi, South Campus, New Delhi, Delhi, 110021, India

    Sheela Srivastava

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  1. Sheela Srivastava
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Correspondence to Sheela Srivastava .

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Srivastava, S. (2013). Conjugation. In: Genetics of Bacteria. Springer, India. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-1090-0_3

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