1. Bacteria reproduce asexually, through binary fission. then how???

1. Bacteria reproduce asexually, through binary fission.





and how, then, does genetic variation arise in a population of bacteria?





does genetic variation within a bacterial population lead to antibiotic resistant strains?

1. Bacteria reproduce asexually, through binary fission. then how???
%26gt; and how, then, does genetic variation arise in a population of bacteria?


a) Through mutation.


b) Through the presence of plasmids that may not be in every individual.


c) Through the presence of genes brought in by lysogenic viruses.





%26gt; does genetic variation within a bacterial population lead to antibiotic resistant strains?


The antibiotic resistant strains are generally those that have a plasmid with genes that enable them to deal with the antibiotics, so, yes.





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Bacteria can send a copy of a plasmid, and even bits of their chromosome, through bacterial conjugation. Look up "sex pilus" and "pilus receptor." With the right pilus and receptor, even bacteria of completely different species can conjugate with each other.
Reply:Genetic variations must arise through mutations, unless I'm missing something.


Yes, genetic variation leads to antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. The antibiotics kill off all the bacteria that are susceptible to it but can't kill the bacteria that is resistant to it. That strain of bacteria is left to reproduce and the antibiotic-resistant strain becomes the dominant bacteria.
Reply:Genetic variation occurs through mutations and through gene splicing, though the latter isn't natural.





Bacteria can also exchange DNA with other bacteria, I beleive this is called conjugation.
Reply:Mutations and conjugation. Sometimes the bacteria screws up its own DNA in the copying processes and they can exchange DNA from other bacteria.
Reply:Generally bacteria reproduce by binary fission, and sometimes a mutation occurs. Most mutations are deadly, but some are not.





But bacteria can conjugate with another bacteria and exchange genetic material, they do this occasionally. This is how antibiotic resistant strains occur.

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