Products
Services
Resources
Selection Guides
About
What is horizontal gene transfer?
Posted June 22, 2020
Cellular ProcessesConjugationDNADNA and RNANucleic AcidsPolymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)Transformation
Answer
Horizontal gene transfer is the lateral movement of genetic material between unicellular and/or multicellular organisms, which is distinct from the vertical transmission of DNA from parent to offspring. There are three main types of horizontal gene transfer:
- Transformation: Uptake and incorporation of exogenous DNA into bacterium from its surroundings through the cell membrane.
- Conjugation: Transfer of genetic material between two bacterial cells in direct cell-to-cell contact.
- Transduction: Injection of foreign DNA into the host bacterium by a bacteriophage virus.
Additional resources
Helixyte™ Green *10,000X Aqueous PCR Solution*
6-ROX glycine *25 uM fluorescence reference solution for PCR reactions*Perdew, G. H., Heuvel, J. P. V., & Peters, J. M. (2008). Regulation of gene expression. Springer Science & Business Media.Lodish, H., Berk, A., Kaiser, C. A., Krieger, M., Scott, M. P., Bretscher, A., ... & Matsudaira, P. (2008). Molecular cell biology. Macmillan.