Question

In which bacterial reproduction method does a bacteriophage is required
A) Conjugation
B) Transformation
C) Binary fission
D) Transduction

Answer 1

Hint: Bacteria are single celled microbes. The cell structure is simpler than that of other organisms as there is no nucleus or membrane bound organelles.

Complete answer:
Bacteria is single celled microorganism. Bacteria is grouped into five groups according to their basic structure and shaped shapes : spherical cocci, rod shaped bacilli, spiral shaped spirilla, comma shaped vibrios or corkscrew shaped spirochaetes. They can survive as single cells, in pairs, chains or clusters.
The method by which bacteria reproduce is by binary fission. In this method the bacterium which is a single cell organism , divides into two identical daughter cells. Binary fission starts when the DNA of the bacterium divides into two replicates. The bacterial cell after that get elongated and splits into two daughter cells each of them with identical DNA to the parent cell. Each daughter cell act as a clone of the parent cell.
Bacterial conjugation is the process in which the transfer of genetic material among bacterial cells by direct cell to cell contact or by a bridge-like connection between two cells. bacterial conjugation is frequently regarded as the bacterial corresponding to sexual reproduction or mating because it involves the exchange of genetic material.
Bacterial transformation is a method of horizontal gene transfer by which some bacteria adopt foreign genetic material DNA from the environment. The requirement for bacteria to undertake transformation is its capacity to take up free, extracellular genetic material. Such bacteria are generally called competent cells.
Transduction is the process by which DNA of a bacterium is transferred from one bacterium to the other by a virus that is bacteriophage. It also refers to the method by which foreign DNA is introduced into one more cell through a viral vector.

Hence the correct answer is option (D) i.e, transduction.

Note:Generally there are three methods of horizontal gene transfer practice. Transformation is a horizontal gene transfer method wherein an exogenous DNA segment is transferred into the host cell. Transduction is the other horizontal gene transfer technique in which genetic material is passed into the host cell with the help of a virus that is bacteriophage. Transcription is a method of synthesis of RNA from the DNA molecule.