Horizontal gene transfer

Horizontal gene transfer(HGT) is the movement of genetic elements between cells that are not direct progeny. Unlike, vertical gene transfer, HGT allows gene transfer between different bacteria species.

Horizontal gene transfer may happen in the following ways:

• Conjugation

• Transformation

• Transduction

Of the three mechanisms of horizontal gene transfer, conjugation is considered to have the most significant influence is the spread of antibiotic resistance genes.

Not all horizontal gene transfer produce to a cell with a new combination of genes (recombinant). The DNA transferred to a new cell has the following fates:

• The DNA may be destroyed by DNA restriction enzyme.

• The DNA may replicate by itself; independent of chromosomes' machinery. (e.g. plasmid)

• The DNA may be incorporated into the chromosome, creating a recombinant.