14 A donor cell with an F plasmid containing a lac genotype

14. A donor cell with an F\' plasmid containing a lac- genotype that has a phenotype of lac- is mated with an F- lac+ cell. Describe the phenotypes of both cells after conjugation assuming recombination occurred. Can the recipient cell conjugate to another cell (can it act as a donor)? If so, what would be the resulting phenotypes of both cells if the new recipient were lac-?

Solution

As the recobination is taking place so the phenotype of both the cell will be lac+because the F- cell contain lac+ gene and it will integrate itself with its main DNA and will be transferred into F\' plasmid containing lac- gene hence the F\' plasmid will also become lac+. Yes the recipient cell can conjugate to another cell and can act as a donor and then the resulting phenotype will be again lac+.