Problem Set 10, Spring 2018 Name:

8 points total
1. A Hfr strain possessing the markers his+ met+ tyr+ strs was mated with a F– strain possessing the markers his–
met– tyr– strr. The time of entry for each marker is shown below.

Donor Marker Time (min)

his+ 21
met+ 12
tyr+ 46

a. Based on the results draw a map of the Hfr chromosome. Indicate the position of the F element, and
the first marker to be transferred.

met 9
12
his
hfr

25

tyr

b. On what type of plates were cells grown to determine the above information?
–His + Strep
–Met + Strep
–Tyr + Strep

1
Problem Set 10, Spring 2018 Name:
8 points total
2. In three different interrupted mating experiments, you obtain the following data for the time of entry of the
following genes: arg, met, leu, ser, gal, val, and phe. All of these experiments were conducted using Hfr
strains (Hfr 1, Hfr 2, and Hfr3) derived from the same original strain of E. coli.

Experiment 1 (Hfr 1) Experiment 2 (Hfr 2) Experiment 3 (Hfr 3)

Met 10 min Gal 5 min Leu 5
Val 25 min Ser 10 min
Leu 30 min min Val 10 min
Arg 40 min Leu 35 Met 25 min
Ser 55 min min Phe 55 min
Gal 60 min Val 40 min Gal 75 min
Met 55 min Ser 80 min
Phe 85 min

a. Determine the order of these genes on the bacterial chromosome and draw a single map showing the position
of each of these genes on the bacterial chromosome. Based on the time intervals above, indicate the map
distances between each gene, expressed in minutes. Also show the origin of transfer and direction of transfer
for each Hfr.

15 val
met 5
10 leu
hfr1 5
hfr3
5
arg
20

15

phe ser
5
15 gal
5
hfr2

b. If the crosses were set up as described in class, what are the genotypes of the donor and recipient cells?
Donor: Hfr arg+ ser+ gal+ phe+ met+ val+ leu+ strpS
Recipient: F- arg- ser- gal- phe- met- val-1 leu- StrpR

2
Problem Set 10, Spring 2018 Name:
8 points total

3. In three different interrupted mating experiments, you obtain the data shown below for the time of entry. All
experiments use Hfr strains derived from the same original parent strain.

Hfr1 Hfr2 Hfr3

miy 10 min sow 5 min mic 5 min
sow 20 min miy 15 min tod 20 min
raj 35 min chr 30 min nub 30 min
nub 40 min sha 40 min raj 35 min
tod 50 min mic 50 min sow 50 min
mic 65 min tod 65 min miy 60 min
sha 75 min nub 75 min chr 75 min

a. Show the genetic map for each of these genes on the circular chromosome. Indicate the location of
each origin and the direction of transfer. Doesn’t need to be drawn to scale.

10 sha
chr 5 hfr3
5
hfr1 5
mic
10
15
miy
tod
10
10
sow
nub
5
5
10 raj
hfr2

b. What are the genotype of the donor and recipient strains?

Hfr miy+ sow+ raj+ nub+ tod+ mic+ sha+ chr+ StrS
F– miy- sow- raj- nub- tod- mic- sha- chr- StrR

3
Problem Set 10, Spring 2018 Name:
8 points total
4. The exotic tropical tree frog G. baileyae normally has 13 pairs of chromsomes (i.e. 2n = 26). You find a
number of unusual individuals with the chromosome content shown below. Please fill in the blanks for each of
the variants in the table below:
# chromosomes ploidy of individual
25 monosomy
13 monoploid
28 could be double trisomy or tetrasomy
52 tetraploid
27 trisomic

5. In an interrupted mating mapping experiment, you obtain the results shown in the graph below. The
experiment was conducted as described in class.

a. Show the genetic map for each of these genes on the circular chromosome. Indicate the location of the
origin and the direction of transfer. Doesn’t need to be drawn to scale.
4 met 7
trp
3 leu
hfr
7

arg

5
lys

b. What are the genotypes of the donor and recipient strains?

donor: Hfr trp+ met+ leu+ arg+ lys+ StrS

recipient: F- trp- met- leu- arg- lys- StrR

c. For each gene, the number of recombinants increases with time until they reach a maximum. Why
does the number of recombinants for a given gene increase with time?
The matings to not all begin at the same time.

d. Why does the number of recombinants reach a maximum?

The probability of separation is balanced by the probability of new matings.

4
Problem Set 10, Spring 2018 Name:
8 points total
6. Compare and contrast the three modes of bacterial DNA transfer.
Conjugation – involves direct cell-cell contact through a cytoplasmic bridge. Involves transfer of
fertility factor (F+), part of bacterial chromosomes (Hfr) or F’
transformation – involves take up of free DNA from the environment, no direct cell-cell contact
transduction – transfer of DNA between bacteria by virus, no direct cell-cell contact

7. In a transduction mapping experiment, you get the following results.

experiment selected marker unselected markers

1 a+ 15% b+, 30% c+
2 b+ 30% c+, 15% a+

a. Draw the relative position of a, b and c.

a c b
b. a, b and c are enzymes required for the synthesis of A, B and C, respectively. An a mutant can’t grow
without A in the media, etc. How are the above recombinants identified?
In experiment 1, cells were plated on plates that lacked A and then replica plated to places that
lacked B and plates that lacked C. In experiment 2, cells were plated on plates that lacked B and then
replica plated to plates that lacked A and plates that lacked C.

8. In studying a particular animal, you find that the fourth chromosome is unusual. The two copies of
chromosome 4 are shown. The normal
chromosome is shown on the top, and the
unusual one is shown on the bottom. The
position of seven genes is shown.

a. What is the specific name of the chromosomal alteration that generated the abnormal chromosome?
pericentric inversion

b. Show the two chromosomes synapsed in meiosis. Please include the genes.
too hard to draw in the computer, it involves formation of an inversion loop to bring homology
together.

c. What effect will the rearrangement in the unusual chromosome have on recombination? Why?
It will appear to suppress recombination because gametes produced by crossing over in the
inverted region will be inviable.

d. You find an individual homozygous for the abnormal chromosome (i.e. the bottom chromosome).
Show it’s chromosomes synapsed in meiosis. Please include the genes.