What are the differences between generalized and specialized transduction?

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Accepted Answer

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

- Gene mapping  
- Mutagenesis
- To study linkage information
- To compare genomes of two different bacteria

- Isolation and insertion of genes of choice

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	Gene mapping Mutagenesis To study linkage information To compare genomes of two different bacteria	Isolation and insertion of genes of choice

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