MCG 301 Microbial Genetics-

Prokaryotic Genomes- Physical organization of bacterial genomes (Structure of the bacterial nucleoid, Replication and partitioning of the bacterial genome and Genome of Archaea).

Mechanism of genetic exchange- Plasmid and bacterial sex, Types of plasmids (F Plasmid: a Conjugate plasmid’, Mobilization of Non-conjugative plasmid, R plasmid, Col plasmid Copy number and incompatibility), Episomes, Transposable elements (Insertion sequence and transposons, Integrons and Antibiotic-Resistance cassettes, Multiple Antibiotic Resistant bacteria, Mu–virus); Bacterial Genetics (Mutant phenotype, DNA mediated Transformation; Conjugation (Cointegrate Formation and Hfr Cells, Time–of–Entry Mapping, F’ Plasmid); Transduction (Generalized transduction, Specialized Transduction)- gene mapping.

Molecular Mechanism of gene regulation in prokaryotes- Transcriptional regulation in prokaryotes (inducible and repressible system, positive regulation and negative regulation); Operon concept – lac, trp, Ara operons.

Bacteriophages- Stages in the Lytic Life Cycle of a typical phage, Properties of a phage infected bacterial culture, Specificity in phage infection, E. coli Phage T4, E.coli Phage T7, E.coli phage lambda, Immunity to infection, Prophage integration, Induction of prophage, Induction & Prophage excision, Repressor, Structure of the operator and binding of the repressor and the Cro product, Decision between the lytic and lysogenic Cycles, Transducing phages, E.coli phage phiX174, The lysogenic Cycle.

Bacteriophage Genetics- Benzer’s fine structure of gene in bacteriophage T4: Plaque Formation and Phage Mutants, Genetic recombition in the lytic cycle, (concept of recon, muton, cistron).