Bacteriology 1 Views 1 Answers
Can conjugation occur between bacteria of different genera?
Can conjugation occur between bacteria of different genera?
Answered
Yes, conjugation can occur between bacteria of different genera, provided that the bacterial species involved possess compatible conjugation machinery. This is more likely with bacteria that harbor broad-host-range plasmids, which can transfer genes across species and genera. For example, plasmids carrying antibiotic resistance can spread between Escherichia coli and Salmonella through conjugation, even though they belong to different genera.
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