Skip to main content
Search
Biomedical Basics

Bacterial genetics

  • Created by Henry Stewart Talks
Published on October 30, 2025   6 min

A selection of talks on Microbiology

Please wait while the transcript is being prepared...
0:00
In this talk, the focus is Bacterial Genetics, supported by coverage of the structure and organization of bacterial genomes, including unique features of chromosomes and plasmids; mechanisms of gene regulation and adaptation, such as operons and regulatory proteins; processes of horizontal gene transfer that drive genetic diversity and antibiotic resistance; methods for studying genetic variation and tracking evolutionary changes; and the implications of modern genetic technologies for research, surveillance, and combating antibiotic resistance.. Bacterial genetics studies how bacteria inherit and exchange genetic information, crucial to their adaptability, pathogenicity, and antibiotic resistance. Most have a single, circular chromosome in the nucleoid region—DNA compacted by supercoiling and nucleoid-associated proteins. Some, like Borrelia, have linear chromosomes or plasmids needing unique end replication strategies, such as terminal proteins or hairpin telomeres. Bacteria often carry plasmids—small, extrachromosomal DNA—that spread virulence and resistance genes. Understanding DNA organization forms the basis of research on bacterial genetic management and evolution. Besides their main chromosome, bacteria often carry plasmids that encode genes for antibiotic resistance, toxins, or other survival traits, and can transfer between cells, making them key agents of genetic change. Bacterial genes are commonly organized

Quiz available with full talk access. Request Free Trial or Login.