cotransduction: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “cotransduction” mean?
The process in genetics where two or more bacterial genes are transferred together from a donor to a recipient bacterium via a bacteriophage (a virus that infects bacteria).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The process in genetics where two or more bacterial genes are transferred together from a donor to a recipient bacterium via a bacteriophage (a virus that infects bacteria).
A method used to map the relative positions of genes on a bacterial chromosome by measuring how frequently they are transferred together by a bacteriophage during transduction.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or spelling differences. The technical term is identical in both variants.
Connotations
Purely denotative; no differing connotations exist.
Frequency
Equally rare and confined to specialized genetics literature in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “cotransduction” in a Sentence
The [GENE A] and [GENE B] were linked by cotransduction.Cotransduction of the [MARKER] with the [SELECTED GENE] was observed.Researchers performed cotransduction to map the [GENETIC LOCUS].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cotransduction” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The researchers attempted to cotransduce the two markers.
- These genes can be cotransduced at a high frequency.
American English
- The team tried to cotransduce the antibiotic resistance gene with the metabolic marker.
- If the loci are close, they will cotransduce efficiently.
adverb
British English
- The genes were transferred cotransductionally.
American English
- The markers moved cotransductionally via the P1 phage.
adjective
British English
- The cotransduction frequency was calculated at 85%.
- A cotransduction assay was performed.
American English
- The cotransduction data supported the genetic map.
- They analyzed the cotransduction results.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Never used.
Academic
Used exclusively in advanced genetics, microbiology, and molecular biology research papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Never used.
Technical
Core term within bacterial genetics for describing gene linkage and mapping experiments.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cotransduction”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cotransduction”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cotransduction”
- Misspelling as 'co-transduction' (hyphen is typically omitted in modern usage).
- Using it as a general synonym for 'transfer'.
- Confusing it with 'conjugation' or 'transformation', which are other bacterial gene transfer methods.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Transduction is the general process of gene transfer by a bacteriophage. Cotransduction specifically refers to the transfer of two or more genes together in a single transduction event, which indicates they are physically close on the bacterial chromosome.
It is primarily used as a tool for genetic mapping in bacteria. By measuring how often two genes are transferred together (cotransduction frequency), researchers can estimate the distance between them and construct a genetic map.
No, cotransduction is a term specific to bacterial genetics and bacteriophages. Similar concepts in eukaryotic genetics might be 'co-transfection' or 'linkage', but the mechanism is entirely different.
A high cotransduction frequency (e.g., 90%) means the two genes are very close together on the bacterial chromosome, as they are frequently packaged into the same bacteriophage particle. A low frequency suggests they are far apart.
The process in genetics where two or more bacterial genes are transferred together from a donor to a recipient bacterium via a bacteriophage (a virus that infects bacteria).
Cotransduction is usually technical/scientific in register.
Cotransduction: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkəʊtrænsˈdʌkʃən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkoʊtrænsˈdʌkʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a COuple being TRANSDUCED together. CO-TRANS-DUCTION: Genes going on a journey together inside a virus taxi.
Conceptual Metaphor
A VEHICLE (the bacteriophage) PICKING UP PASSENGERS (genes). Close passengers (genes) are more likely to get in the same vehicle together.
Practice
Quiz
Cotransduction is a process primarily associated with: