What must occur for bacterial conjugation to take place? A. The cells must transfer RNA. B. One of the cells must be E. coli. C. The cells must come into contact with each other. D. Each cell must contain a plasmid.

Sourav PanDecember 7, 2024

Answered

The correct answer is C. The cells must come into contact with each other.

Explanation: For bacterial conjugation to occur, direct physical contact between the donor and recipient cells is required. This contact is usually mediated by a pilus, a hair-like appendage on the donor cell, which brings the cells close enough to transfer genetic material, typically in the form of a plasmid.

Here’s why the other options are incorrect:

• A. The cells must transfer RNA: This is false. Bacterial conjugation involves the transfer of DNA, not RNA. Typically, plasmid DNA is transferred from the donor to the recipient cell.
• B. One of the cells must be E. coli: This is false. While E. coli is often studied in laboratory conjugation experiments, conjugation can occur between a wide variety of bacterial species, not just E. coli.
• D. Each cell must contain a plasmid: This is false. Only the donor cell typically contains a plasmid with the genes necessary for conjugation (such as the F plasmid). The recipient cell does not necessarily need a plasmid, although it may acquire one during the process.