Pros And Cons Of Horizontal Gene Transfer

Imagine the ability to be able to change your genetics with others, such as your friends, family, or even a random stranger you see walking down the street. Bacteria have the ability to do this. Through the processes of transformation, transduction, and conjugation bacteria are able to exchange DNA and as a result increasing genetic variety. “In transformation, the recipient bacterium takes up extracellular donor DNA. In transduction, donor DNA packaged in a bacteriophage infects the recipient bacterium. In conjugation, the donor bacterium transfers DNA to the recipient by mating.” Horizontal gene transfer also allows bacteria to acquire new DNA, but keep in mind that; “Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT) is beneficial to a cell if the acquired
gene confers a useful function, but is detrimental if the gene has no function, if it is incompatible with existing genes, or if it is a selfishly replicating mobile element (Aaron A Vogan and Paul G Higgs).
The process of specialized transduction involves transfer of a few specialized genes from one bacterial cell to another by the means of a phage. “Only the bacterial genes located near the site of the integration of the phage DNA can be transduced, hence the term, specialized transduction”(Prescott Harley). There are some dangers involved with specialized transduction and we must be knowledgeable of the dangers of specialized transduction such as, more bacteria can become antibiotic resistant which causes medicine to not be effective. Also some prophages integrate into the bacterial genome at a specific location. Another danger is, when a prophage is induced to the lytic phase, it may drag along a piece of bacterial genome next to the integration site and move the bacterial sequence into the new recipient host cell, changing the recipient's genome.
Although there are dangers and negatives for this process there are some benefits.
These benefits include, very efficient transfer of a small region, an excellent source of DNA for the chromosomal region carried by the phage, and since every phage carries the same DNA it can often be used to select for deletions of some of the chromosomal genes carried on the phage. Another benefit of changing bacteria’s DNA is that you can change it in the lab and as a result; ”Bacteria are commonly used as host cells for making copies of DNA in the lab because they are easy to grow in large numbers. Their cellular machinery naturally carries out DNA replication and protein synthesis.” Not only do they allow scientist to use them as host cells but they are also, (Bacteria are) incredibly versatile organisms that have the unique ability to take in foreign DNA and replicate (or copy) it. This gives them an evolutionary advantage and helps them survive changes in their environment. For example, bacteria can acquire DNA that makes them resistant to antibiotics.”
This seems good until we see that bacteria has started to become resistant to antibiotics,as stated above. The increased genetic variety has caused a lot of problems in the medical world and with medicine. Bacteria are always seeming to evolve and the quick evolution of bacteria may soon bring the end of antibiotics. To ensure that they stop this from happening there are some steps and precautions doctors are taking and instructions you can follow as well when you are prescribed
antibiotics.
“The emergence of antibiotic resistance creates a new challenge for public health, and there is no simple solution. To treat a resistant infection and prevent resistance from spreading, doctors sometimes prescribe a broad-spectrum approach. This approach combines multiple antibiotics that attack bacteria in different ways. It can work better because it is unlikely that a single bacterium will be resistant to multiple antibiotics. Yet for the same reason, this approach kills many more friendly bacteria and can cause related health complications. Antibiotic resistance can also be prevented in other ways. Doctors are being extra careful not to prescribe antibiotics unless they’re absolutely necessary. You can help too. If you need to take an antibiotic, follow the instructions carefully and finish your prescription even if you start feeling better. Antibiotics are a valuable tool for fighting bacterial infections, and using them responsibly now will help make sure they continue working in the future” (Hawkey).