Question

In which of the following cases will the viral progeny generated retain their infection ability?

(a) A generalized trasducing phage affects a normal cell

(b) A specialized transducing phage affects a cell infected by same virus

(c) A specialized transducing phage will attack a normal cell

(d) A generalized transducing phage will affect a cell with a different viral infection

This question was addressed to me in a job interview.

Origin of the question is Gene Mapping in Bacteria by Transduction in chapter Genomics : The Mapping and Sequencing of Genomes of Cytogenetics

Answer 1

The correct option is (b) A specialized transducing phage affects a cell infected by same virus

To elaborate: When the recipient is already infected by the same virus the complete genome of specialized tranducing phage is already present. This will produce normal infective virus as well as more specialized transducing infective viruses.