Chapter 9: Microbial Genetics

Genetics - the study of heredity

• the science of genetics:
• - transmission of biological traits from parent to offspring
• - expression and variation of traits
• - structure and function of genetic material
• - how genetic material changes

Genome - sum total of genetic material of a cell (chromosomes+mitochondria/chloroplasts and/or plasmids)

• - genome of cells - DNA
• - genome of viruses - DNA or RNA

• Chromosomes - DNA complexed with protein