Transduction is a biological gene transfer method in which a bacteriophage transfers DNA from one bacterium to another. There are two types of transduction – generalized and specialized. There are several significant differences between the two.
Basis of differentiation | Generalized transduction | Specialized transduction |
Definition | Is a biological gene transfer method in which bacterial DNA from one bacterium are transferred to another by virulent or lytic bacteriophages | Is a biological gene transfer method in which bacterial DNA from one bacterium are transferred to another by temperate phages |
DNA source | The phage carries random fragments from any part of DNA | The phage carries only a specific region of the DNA that is adjacent to prophage |
Life cycle | Undergoes lytic cycle | Undergoes lysogenic cycle |
Lysis of bacterial cell | Lyses quickly | Does not lyse quickly but is capable of surviving for several generations |
Genetic material packaging | A portion of the donor bacterial DNA is enclosed within viral capsid | During detachment from the bacterial chromosome, small portions of bacterial DNA remain attached to viral DNA and are packaged into new capsids |
Integration of viral DNA | Viral DNA is not integrated into the bacterial chromosome | Viral DNA is integrated into the bacterial chromosome |
Hydrolysis of bacterial DNA | Bacterial DNA hydrolyses into pieces | Bacterial DNA is not hydrolyzed |
Transfer mechanism | Transfer takes place due to mistaken packaging during phage assembly | Transfer takes place due to excision of prophage with nearby DNA |
Recipient Specificity | Less specific between different strains | Closely related strains with shared site |
Transfer range | Transferred to any segment of the bacterial genome | Limited to specific genes or loci |
Frequency | Relatively higher | Low |
Prophage formation | No prophage is formed | Prophages are formed |
Suitability for genetic mapping | Less suitable for precise mapping studies | Useful for precise genetic mapping |
Applications |