Genetic Recombination in Bacteriophage

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the genetic recombination in bacteriophage. Although many aspects of the biochemistry, genetics, and general physiology of the system are pertinent to the question of recombination in bacteriophages, the chapter considers only certain facets of the problem. Specifically, the idea of some kind of phosphodiester breakage-rejoining event(s) is accepted as the basic mechanism for genetic recombination. It is assumed that the process is accomplished by the action of the enzymes. The chapter describes some more or less classical genetic and biologic observations relevant to the problem of genetic recombination, as well as to describe some newer findings that correlate the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) structure, with the genetic structure. In addition, a brief examination of some enzyme systems that are candidates for the catalysis of recombinational events is discussed in this chapter. The chapter also discusses various genetic and biologic considerations, such as: (a) general features of recombination in bacteriophage, (b) circular map, (c) physical evidence for terminal redundancy, (d) kinetics of recombination, (e) nonreciprocity in the formation of recombinants,(f) heterozygosity , and (g) interference. The chapter also discusses various biophysical and biochemical approaches for genetic recombination in the bacteriophage.