Short Answer
The experiment involved transforming E. coli with a plasmid that provided resistance to tetracycline and kanamycin. The transformed bacteria can survive in tetracycline due to the tet gene, but the insertion of human DNA disrupted the kan gene, making them susceptible to kanamycin.
Step 1: Understanding the Transformation Process
In this experiment, E. coli bacteria were transformed with a plasmid known as pTET-KAN, which contains genes providing resistance to two antibiotics: tetracycline and kanamycin. The plasmid is taken up by the bacterial cells, integrating into their own genetic material. This transformation is crucial as it prepares the bacteria to survive in the presence of certain antibiotics.
Step 2: Survival in Tetracycline Presence
The transformed E. coli can survive when cultured in an environment containing tetracycline due to the tet gene present on the plasmid. This gene equips the bacteria with a mechanism to resist the effects of tetracycline, allowing the transformed cells to continue growing. In contrast, untransformed bacteria would not survive in such an environment.
Step 3: Implications of Human DNA Insertion
During the transformation, a fragment of human DNA was also inserted, likely into the region carrying the kan gene. This insertion disrupted the gene’s function, rendering the transformed bacteria unable to resist kanamycin. As a result, while the E. coli thrive in tetracycline, they would succumb to kanamycin due to the disruption caused by the human DNA fragment.