transduction

1. Transfer of genetic material (and its phenotypic expression) from one cell to another by viral infection. 2. A form of genetic recombination in bacteria. 3. Conversion of energy from one form to another. [trans- + L. duco, pp. ductus, to lead across]

- abortive t. t. in which the genetic fragment from the donor bacterium is not integrated in the genome of the recipient bacterium, and, when the latter divides, is transmitted to only one of the daughter cells.

- complete t. t. in which the transferred genetic fragment is fully integrated in the genome of the recipient bacterium.

- Davis battery model of t. a concept in which the positive endocochlear potential and the negative intracellular potential of the hair cells provide the electromotive force to pass current through the reticular lamina of the organ of Corti.

- general t. t. in which the transducing bacteriophage is able to transfer any gene of the donor bacterium.

- high-frequency t. specialized t. in which the donor bacterium contains not only the transducing, defective probacteriophage but also nondefective prophage that serves as “helper” virus, enabling most of the defective prophage particles to develop sufficiently to function as transducing agents.

- low-frequency t. specialized t. in which only a small portion of the prophage particles, because of their defectiveness, are able to develop sufficiently to serve as effective transducing agents.

- mechanoelectric t. the conversion of mechanical energy to electric energy by sensory cells such as auditory and vestibular hair cells.

- specialized t. t. in which the bacteriophage strain is able to transfer only some, or only one, of the donor bacterium genes. SYN: specific t..

- specific t. SYN: specialized t..

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trans·duc·tion -'dek-shən n

1) the action or process of converting something and esp. energy or a message into another form

2) the transfer of genetic material from one organism (as a bacterium) to another by a genetic vector and esp. a bacteriophage compare TRANSFORMATION (2)

trans·duc·tion·al -shnəl, -shən-əl adj

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n.

the transfer of DNA from one bacterium to another by means of a bacteriophage (phage). Some bacterial DNA is incorporated into the phage. When the host bacterium is destroyed the phage infects another bacterium and introduces the DNA from its previous host, which may become incorporated into the new host's DNA.

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trans·duc·tion (trans-dukґshən) [L. transducere to lead across] the transfer of genetic information from one bacterium to another via a bacteriophage vector. the transforming of one form of energy into another, such as by the sensory mechanisms of the body; see also sensory t. and transducer.