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A particular bacteria is noted to have a small plasmid, which is identified as coding for a sex pilus. If this plasmid is removed from all of the bacteria in a colony, what can be expected of the colony?
A Reproduction would desist and the colony would naturally die out.
B Population growth would slow down.
C Mutations would have a much more harmful effect on the colony.
D Population growth would remain the same.
Answer is D. Explanation: The sex pilus is only necessary for conjugation (genetic recombination). It is NOT necessary for bacterial survival, thus population size would not be hindered. Mutations would have LESS of an effect on the colony, because there is less genetic recombination because there no longer exists a sex pilus gene.
I thought the sex pilus was necessary for initiating conjugation, so if you make a bunch of bacteria without sex pili, those bacteria cannot initiate conjugation with another bacteria, thus reducing the number of initiators and essentially slowing population growth?
Is this not the same as F factor?
A Reproduction would desist and the colony would naturally die out.
B Population growth would slow down.
C Mutations would have a much more harmful effect on the colony.
D Population growth would remain the same.
Answer is D. Explanation: The sex pilus is only necessary for conjugation (genetic recombination). It is NOT necessary for bacterial survival, thus population size would not be hindered. Mutations would have LESS of an effect on the colony, because there is less genetic recombination because there no longer exists a sex pilus gene.
I thought the sex pilus was necessary for initiating conjugation, so if you make a bunch of bacteria without sex pili, those bacteria cannot initiate conjugation with another bacteria, thus reducing the number of initiators and essentially slowing population growth?
Is this not the same as F factor?