BY

A.BHARANIDEEPAN
13-513-301
REPRODUCTION IN
BACTERIA
Bacteria reproduce by Vegetative, asexual and sexual methods.

Vegetative reproduction includes Budding, Fragmentation
and Binary fission

REPRODUCTION TYPES
Bacteria reproduce by budding process in which small bud
develops at one end of cell, this enlarge and developed into
new cell and separate from the mother cell.

Budding has been observed in some Gram-Positive Bacteria
e.g. Planctomycetes, Cyanobacteria.
Budding
Binary fission =division in half
Two step process
1. DNA (circular
chromosome) must be copied
prior to cell division
2. Each chromosome is
separated and distributed to
each daughter cell
Binary fission
Bacteria reproduce asexually by cell division
called binary fission

First, the bacterial chromosome begins to
replicate, starting at the origin of
replication

Replication continues, one origin moves
to the opposite side of the cell, and the
cell elongates

Replication finishes, the plasma
membrane grows inward, and a new cell
wall is laid down

Produces two genetically identical daughter
cells clones

Binary fission is the evolutionary precursor to
mitosis
Most cells produced by binary fission are identical.

Variation in bacteria results from mutation and genetic
recombination

Spontaneous mutations: once in every 10 million divisions. In
12 hours E.. coli produces 10 to 100 million cells
It is the time, covering the beginning of division of the mother
cell up to the formation of two new cells.

The average generative time is about 20 30 minutes
Generative (or doubling) time
Mostly during unfavorable conditions, bacterial protoplasm
undergoes compartmentalization and subsequent
fragmentation, forming minute bodies called gonidia.

Under favorable conditions, each gonidium grows to a new
bacterium.

It becomes apparent that prior to fragmentation the bacterial
genome has to undergo repeated replication so that each
fragment gets a copy of it.
Fragmentation
Endospore are resting spores formed in some gram positive
bacteria (Bacillus and Clostridium) during unfavourable
conditions.

They are formed within the cells.

During this process a part of the protoplast becomes
concentrated around the chromosome.
Asexual Reproduction By Endospore
Formation
A hard resistant wall is secreted around it. The rest of the
bacterial cell degenerates.

Endospore are very resistant to extreme physical conditions
and chemicals.

During favourable conditions the spore wall gets ruptured and
the protoplasmic mass gives rise to a new bacterium.

occurs in the form of genetic recombination.
There are three main methods of Genetic Recombination
1. Transformation
2. Transduction and
3. Conjugation.

Sexual reproduction
The direct transfer of genetic material between two bacteria cells that are
temporarily joined

DNA transfer is one-way, from male to female

The donor (male) uses an appendage called the sex pilus that forms a cytoplasmic mating
bridge

DNA gets transferred via this bridge in the form of a plasmid

The plasmid encodes the ability to mate as well as other traits such as antibiotic resistance

Conjugation - Lederberg and Tatum, 1946
The alteration of a bacterial cells genotype and phenotype by the uptake of
naked, foreign DNA from the surrounding environment
Transformation was first demonstrated in 1928 by British
bacteriologist Frederick Griffith.
Many bacteria possess cell surface proteins that facilitate transformation in
natural populations
E. coli is used in biotechnology applications of genetic recombination (genetic
engineering)
Cells are cultured in high CaCl
2
to become competent
Cells are then transformed with human genes that code for proteins such as insulin or
growth hormone that are needed in large amounts

Transformation

Zinder and Lederberg(1952)

Phages (viruses that infect bacteria) carry bacterial genes from one host cell to
another as a result of mistakes in the phage reproductive cycle.


Transduction