Explain in detail how competence and transformation are regulated in Streptococcus pneumoniae. Describe the molecular model for the uptake of DNA in Gram positive bacteria. Explain how donor DNA is integrated into the host genome. Explain how transformation can be used to determine gene linkage and map distances. Explain how E. coli is artificially transformed.
Plasmids Describe the concept of an episome.
Explain how plasmids were discovered. Explain how plasmid DNA is isolated from bacteria. Explain how plasmids replicate. Explain how multiple plasmids may coexist in a single bacterial cell. Explain how copy number of plasmids is controled.