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called transduction. The phenomenon of transduction was first discovered by Zinder and
Lederberg (1952) while searching for sexual conjugation in Salmonells sp.
If such a virus infects a new cell, whereupon they will attach to the chromosome and
transduce the cell as lysogeny is established. In generalised transduction, the viral DNA
enters the lytic cycle and forms new virus particles
However, tiny fragments of bacterial chromosome are sometimes incorporated into the
DNA of the new viruses or may occasionally replace the viral DNA. This is a random
occurrence that may involve any of the bacterial genes, hence the name generalised
transduction. Perhaps one phage in a thousand contains bacterial DNA. All bacterial
genes are equally available to be picked up by the phage DNA.
When the viral particles are released during lysis, the genes are carried along
and on subsequent infection, the genes enter the cytoplasm of the new host cell where
they will now function.The phenomenon of lysogeny is well established in modern
microbiology. Diphtheria organisms are known to contain bacteriophages that code for
the toxin produced during disease. Herpes simplex viruses remain for many years as
prophages in the cytoplasm of the body cells, expressing themselves at, long intervals.
Certain viruses are known to attach to human chromosomes, transforming the cells to
tumour cells.
Abortive Transduction: When a segment of bacterial DNA (exogenote) is introduced into the
another bacterium by a bacteriophage, the exogenate may be integrated into the recipient
bacterial chromosome. This type of transduction is called complete transduction. In
contrast, when the exogenote is not integrated into the endogenote and remains free, it is
called abortive transduction
In detaching, however, the viral DNA may carry with it a few bacterial genes from the
chromosome. The genes are then replicated along wi gvvth the viral DNA and they
become part of the new phage particles. When the latter are released, copies of the genes
are carried along. As the cycle repeats during the next infection, phage DNA enters the
new bacterial cells and inserts onto a new chromosome. However, copies of the original,
bacterial genes are included, and the bacterium becomes transduced. The bacterial cell
now contains its own genes plus several from the original cell. This type of transduction
is called specialised transduction, because specific genes are removed from the bacterial
chromosome, depending upon where the viral DNA was attached. This occurs in lambda
phage. The removal of genes, however, is thought to be an extremely rare event.