Role of Horizontal Gene Transfer in Bacteria

Abstract

This paper documents an overview on the current knowledge of gene transfer in bacteria with emphasis on the role of horizontal gene transfer, in contrast to the numerous gaps in our understanding of Bacterial gene expression. Horizontal gene transfer is the genetic exchange in bacteria that is different from a parent-offspring relationship. Horizontal gene transfer is the transfer of genetic material from unrelated taxa. This type of gene transfer is important in bacteria because it transfers the gene from another group of bacteria with drug resistance, virulence and pathogenicity genes to bacteria's, which lacks these type of genes. Not all type of gene on bacteria are equally likely to be transferred. genes taking part in replication, interpretation, and interpretation (educational qualities) are less inclined to be on a level plane exchanged than operational. Plasmids are the circular genetic materials in bacteria that encode the resistance genes; that is important to bacterial virulence and are mostly transferred from one bacterium to another. Bacteria use different methods to transfer these types of genes from one bacterium to another and horizontal gene transfer can be affected by the mechanism of genetic transfer, system of gene integration and by ecology. Therefore, it is important to control the rapid horizontal gene transfer in bacteria.

Keywords:  Bacteria; bacteriophages; Horizontal Gene Transfer; plasmid