17Q Viral genes frequently make their way into bacterial genomes. Why is this the case?
1. They are closely related.
2. Bacteria have an F factor promoting this.
3. The synaptonemal complex is present in both forms
4. Their DNA's are similar
5. None of the above
CORRECT! Although their DNA's might be similar, that in and of itself is not sufficient to explain the phenomenon. After all, one DNA produces a virus, the other a bacterium. However, both DNA's are circular and similar base sequences on both DNA's at the point where the two ends join permit them to link when the circles are opened. Geneticists say such DNA's have "stickey ends" but an explanation of the phenomenon must wait for the next disk. Note that the synaptonemal complex is an aligning device that plays a critical role in crossing over in eukaryotic cells... not the monera.