Viruses have the potential to bring bits of DNA from one species to another species and incorporate the DNA from one species into the permanent genome of another species. True or false?

Question

Biology

Nataly Madden

21 September, 06:48

Viruses have the potential to bring bits of DNA from one species to another species and incorporate the DNA from one species into the permanent genome of another species. True or false?

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Answers (1)

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Carsen Sellers · Answer 1

True. This process is called transduction.

Explanation:

When a virus infects a host, it incorporates its genetic material into the host cell and uses the host cell to replicate its own material. When the virus breaks out of the host cell i. e. lyses the host cell, the host's DNA is cut into bits. The virus can then incorporate (take in) part of the host's DNA into its own.

When this virus attacks a new host, the foreign DNA it got from host 1 can now be introduced to the second host. This is possible because viruses inject their DNA (or RNA) into their host.

When the second host replicates, the new DNA introduced by the virus will also be replicated to its offspring.

This process is has been recorded in bacteria. Viruses that infect bacteria are called bacteriophage.