Answer to Question #214872 in Cell Biology for Natalie Malz

Question

Individual bacterial cells may have plasmids with the genes that protect the bacterial cells from antibiotics. Explain how this trait may be passed on to other bacterial cells in the colony

Answer 1

Plasmids are important for bacterial evolution and adaptation to the changing environment, as they carry genes which carry beneficial traits for the bacterial cell.

For example, plasmids can contain antibiotic resistance genes, posing a risk to public health. Plasmids carrying resistance genes are known as R plasmids.