Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory Office of Science NEWTON's Homepage NEWTON's Homepage
NEWTON, Ask A Scientist!
NEWTON Home Page NEWTON Teachers Visit Our Archives Ask A Question How To Ask A Question Question of the Week Our Expert Scientists Volunteer at NEWTON! Frequently Asked Questions Referencing NEWTON About NEWTON About Ask A Scientist Education At Argonne Time Mapping 
Name: Sumathi
Status: Student
Grade:  Other
Location: AL
Country: United States
Date: June 2006
Question:
What is mean by time mapping in microbial genetics?


Replies:
When two strains of E. coli with the appropriate mating type are mixed (for example F- and Hfr), the bacteria conjugate and the Hfr DNA molecule breaks at a specific location and the DNA molecule is slowly transferred from the Hfr cell to the F minus cell. At various times, the cells are separated by agitating them in a Waring blender and the resulting progeny are analyzed by which genes have been transferred. The length of time between when two different genes are transferred is a direct measure of how far apart they are on the DNA molecule. This distance or time of transfer can be used to construct a genetic map of the bacterial chromosome.

Ron Baker, Ph.D.


Click here to return to the Molecular Biology Archives

NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.

For assistance with NEWTON contact a System Operator (help@newton.dep.anl.gov), or at Argonne's Educational Programs

NEWTON AND ASK A SCIENTIST
Educational Programs
Building 360
9700 S. Cass Ave.
Argonne, Illinois
60439-4845, USA
Update: June 2012
Weclome To Newton

Argonne National Laboratory