Hfr cell

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Hfr cell

Hfr cell (pronounced as "H-F-R cell") is a type of bacterial cell that is capable of transferring DNA to a recipient cell during the process of bacterial conjugation. The term "Hfr" stands for "High frequency of recombination", indicating the cell's high propensity for exchanging genetic material.

Etymology

The term "Hfr cell" was first coined by the American geneticist William Hayes in the 1950s. The acronym "Hfr" stands for "High frequency of recombination", which refers to the cell's ability to transfer its genetic material to a recipient cell at a high frequency during the process of bacterial conjugation.

Definition

An Hfr cell is a bacterium that contains a F plasmid, or fertility factor, integrated into its chromosome. This allows the cell to initiate the process of bacterial conjugation, during which it can transfer a portion of its chromosomal DNA, along with the F plasmid, to a recipient cell. This process is a form of horizontal gene transfer, which is a major mechanism for genetic variation in bacteria.

Related Terms

  • Bacterial conjugation: The process by which a bacterial cell transfers genetic material to another bacterial cell.
  • F plasmid: A type of plasmid that makes the bacterium capable of forming a pilus for the purpose of DNA transfer.
  • Horizontal gene transfer: The transfer of genes between organisms in a manner other than traditional reproduction.
  • Chromosome: A DNA molecule with part or all of the genetic material of an organism.

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