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Ch. 8 - Microbial Genetics
Tortora - Microbiology: An Introduction 14th Edition
Tortora14th EditionMicrobiology: An IntroductionISBN: 9780138200398Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksTortora 14th EditionCh. 8 - Microbial GeneticsProblem 9
Chapter 8, Problem 9

Why are mutation and recombination important in the process of natural selection and the evolution of organisms?

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Understand that mutation and recombination are sources of genetic variation within a population, which is essential for natural selection to act upon.
Recognize that mutations are random changes in the DNA sequence that can introduce new alleles (gene variants) into a population, potentially affecting an organism's traits.
Know that recombination occurs during sexual reproduction and involves the exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes, creating new combinations of alleles.
Realize that this genetic variation resulting from mutation and recombination provides a diverse pool of traits, some of which may offer a survival or reproductive advantage in a given environment.
Conclude that natural selection acts on this variation by favoring individuals with advantageous traits, leading to the evolution of populations over time.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Mutation

Mutation refers to changes in the DNA sequence of an organism's genome. These changes can introduce new genetic variations, some of which may affect an organism's traits. Mutations are a primary source of genetic diversity, providing raw material for evolution and natural selection to act upon.
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Recombination

Recombination is the process by which genetic material is exchanged between different molecules of DNA, especially during sexual reproduction. This shuffling of genes creates new combinations of alleles, increasing genetic diversity within a population and enabling natural selection to favor advantageous traits.
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Natural Selection and Evolution

Natural selection is the mechanism by which organisms with beneficial traits are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those traits to the next generation. Evolution is the change in the genetic makeup of populations over time, driven by natural selection acting on genetic variation from mutation and recombination.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

Two offspring cells are most likely to inherit which one of the following from the parent cell?

a. A change in a nucleotide in mRNA

b. A change in a nucleotide in tRNA

c. A change in a nucleotide in rRNA

d. A change in a nucleotide in DNA

e. A change in a protein

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Textbook Question

Use the following choices to answer the question:

a. Catabolite repression

b. DNA polymerase

c. Induction

d. Repression

e. Translation


The mechanism by which lactose controls the lac operon.

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Textbook Question

You are provided with cultures with the following characteristics:

Culture 1: F+, genotype A+B+C+

Culture 2: F ̄, genotype A ̄B ̄C ̄

a. Indicate the possible genotypes of a recombinant cell resulting from the conjugation of cultures 1 and 2.

b. Indicate the possible genotypes of a recombinant cell resulting from conjugation of the two cultures after the F+ has become an Hfr cell.

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Textbook Question

Which of the following is not a method of horizontal gene transfer?

a. Binary fission

b. Conjugation

c. Integration of a transposon

d. Transduction

e. Transformation

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Textbook Question

Normally a commensal in the human intestine, this bacterium became pathogenic after acquiring a toxin gene from a Shigella bacterium.

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