The bacteria generally used for genetic engineering is a)Agro bacteriumb)Bacillusc)Pseudomonasd)ClostridiumCorrect answer is option 'A'. Can you explain this answer?

Question

Answer

The two most important bacterias are E.coli (which is used for commercial production) and Agrobacterium i.e. agrobacterium tumifaciens.
Agrobacterium has T. DNA which is transferred in host cells. That's why this bacteria is called as natural genetic engineer which is generally used for genetic engineering.

Answer

----)) Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a soil plant pathogenic bacterium that carries Ti plasmid. It can transfer a particular segment of the tumor-inducing (Ti) plasmid into the nucleus of infected cells. The transferred T-DNA is then integrated into the host genome and transcribed with it.

• This ability of Agrobacterium tumefaciens to transfer the T-DNA in the host genome is explored in genetic engineering to transfer the desired DNA segment

Answer

Introduction:
Genetic engineering involves manipulating the genetic material of an organism to produce desired characteristics. Bacteria are commonly used in genetic engineering due to their ability to replicate quickly and their well-understood genetic makeup. Among the various bacteria used, Agrobacterium tumefaciens is widely used in genetic engineering experiments.

Explanation:
Agrobacterium tumefaciens:
Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a Gram-negative soil bacterium that naturally infects plants and causes crown gall disease. It possesses a unique ability to transfer a portion of its own DNA, known as the T-DNA, into the genome of the host plant. This natural transfer mechanism makes Agrobacterium an ideal tool for genetic engineering.

Steps involved in genetic engineering using Agrobacterium:
1. Isolation of T-DNA: The T-DNA is isolated from Agrobacterium and modified to remove unwanted genes and introduce desired genes. This modified T-DNA is then introduced into Agrobacterium.

2. Transformation of Agrobacterium: The modified T-DNA is transferred into Agrobacterium using a variety of techniques such as electroporation or heat shock. This transformed Agrobacterium can now be used to transfer the modified T-DNA into the target organism.

3. Infection of target organism: Agrobacterium is mixed with the target organism, usually a plant tissue culture. The bacteria infect the plant cells and transfer the modified T-DNA into the genome of the plant cells.

4. Integration of T-DNA: The transferred T-DNA integrates into the genome of the host plant cells. This integration can result in the expression of the introduced genes and the production of desired traits in the plant.

5. Regeneration of transformed plants: The transformed plant cells are cultured in a suitable medium to allow the formation of new plants. These plants can then be grown and propagated, carrying the desired genetic modifications.

Advantages of using Agrobacterium:
- Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is a relatively simple and efficient technique.
- It allows the transfer of multiple genes simultaneously.
- The transferred genes can be stably integrated into the genome of the host organism.
- Agrobacterium can infect a wide range of plants, making it a versatile tool for genetic engineering in agriculture.

Conclusion:
Agrobacterium tumefaciens is the bacteria generally used for genetic engineering due to its natural ability to transfer DNA into plants and its efficiency in transforming plant cells. This bacterium has revolutionized genetic engineering and has enabled the development of genetically modified crops with improved traits.

Answer

The “sharing” of DNA among living forms is well documented as a natural phenomenon. For thousands of years, genes have moved from one organism to another. For example, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, a soil bacterium known as ‘nature’s own genetic engineer’, has the natural ability to genetically engineer plants. It causes crown gall disease in a wide range of broad-leaved plants, such as apple, pear, peach, cherry, almond, raspberry, and roses.

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