Pathogenicity islands have been defined as groups of related genes, often involved in virulence, found in different bacterial strains and species. These "islands" can be located at widely different positions on the chromosomes of the different bacterial types or extrachromosomal DNA like plasmids. Which of the following best describes the acquisition of pathogenicity islands by different bacteria?
A. random mutation
B. directed mutation
C. horizontal gene transfer
D. vertical gene transfer
Answer:C
Pathogenicity islands have been defined as groups of related genes, often involved in virulence, found in different bacterial strains and species. These "islands" can be located at widely different positions on the chromosomes of the different bacterial types or extrachromosomal DNA like plasmids. Which of the following best describes the acquisition of pathogenicity islands by different bacteria?
A. random mutation B. directed mutation C. horizontal gene transfer D. vertical gene transfer