High School

Suppose a researcher conducts matings between three HFR bacterial strains and an F- strain.

What might the researcher be trying to determine?

Answer :

Final answer:

In this biology experiment, the researcher conducts matings between HFR bacterial strains and an F- strain to study bacterial conjugation and gene transfer. Through this experiment, the order and linkage of bacterial genes can be mapped along the E. coli chromosome.

Explanation:

When a researcher conducts matings between three HFR bacterial strains and an F- strain, it is a biological experiment involving bacterial conjugation. Bacterial conjugation is a process where genetic material is transferred between bacterial cells through direct contact. In this experiment, the HFR strains contain an F plasmid that can transfer some of the E. coli genes along with it, while the F- strain is a recipient cell without the ability to transfer genetic material.


The experiment aims to study the order and linkage of bacterial genes. By using different HFR strains with the F- bacteria, the researcher can map the genes along the E. coli chromosome. Over time, through conjugation, the order of genes transferred can be determined, and their distance to the ABCD genes can be measured.


This experiment provides insight into the linear arrangement of genes on bacterial DNA and the ability of HFR cells to transfer different genes in a specific order. It also highlights the way the F plasmid integrates into recipient cell chromosomal DNA, forming HFR cells. The resulting progeny cells of the HFR strain continue to exhibit high-frequency recombination.