Question

Assume “population A” of naturally competent bacteria were dying rapidly due to growth of a competitive species. Would the cells in “population A” be more or less likely to absorb naked DNA from the environment under these circumstances? Explain.

Answer 1

Answer: The cells differentiates stochastically and transiently into competent cells in stationary phase. Due to growth of competitive species, the cell signal will arrest the growth of naturally competitive species and hence, they will dye rapidly initially. However, in presence of external antibiotic or other stimulus, the naturally competent cell exhibit more extensive competence. Therefore, the cells of population A will eventually show more enhanced activity of absorption naked DNA from the environment.

Reference:

Yüksel, M.,J Power, J. J., Ribbe, J., Volkmann, T. and Maier, B. 2016. Fitness Trade-Offs in Competence Differentiation of Bacillus subtilis.