MICRO-C-OMICS #11: Lets Exchange Some Genes -Extracellular Vesicle Mediated

Microorganisms can exchange genetic information, a process commonly called Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT). Microorganisms do it to adapt changing environments and to evolve so that they can survive. Yet, HGT can also affect our survival, both in a good and bad ways. While transfer of antibiotic resistance genes turns into s a major health crisis, transfer of pollutant degrading genes, for example, helps us to clean the environment. (And we can also make shiny bacteria in the lab to experiment with) In the previous posts ( #micro_c_omics_HGT) I introduced three main HGT mechanisms. Recently, scientists discovered a 4th way, which is mediated by the extracellular vesicles. Extracellular vesicles are produced by many bacteria. When DNA, encapsulated by these extracellular vesicles, is released it can be take up by another bacteria.

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