Explain why the existence of a linear bacterial extrachromosomal element goes against common knowledge in bacterial genetics.
- Scientists recently identified an extrachromosomal element in a Salmonella bacterium. They suspected that this element is linear. As this goes against the common line of thinking in bacterial genetics, they will have to accumulate a significant body of experimental evidence to support this hypothesis, before it is accepted in the field.
- Explain why the existence of a linear bacterial extrachromosomal element goes against common knowledge in bacterial genetics.
- Propose two experiments that the scientists might use to obtain data to support or reject this hypothesis.
- If the element is indeed linear, what are the features that you would consider important to study in the long term?
