The restriction enzymes of bacteria protect the bacteria from successful attack by bacteriophages, whose genomes can be degraded by the restriction enzymes. The bacterial genomes are not vulnerable to these restriction enzymes because bacterial DNA is methylated. This situation selects for bacteriophages whose genomes are also methylated. As new strains of resistant bacteriophages become more prevalent, this in turn selects for bacteria whose genomes are not methylated and whose restriction enzymes instead degrade methylated DNA. The outcome of the conflict between bacteria and bacteriophages at any point in time results from ________.

Question

The restriction enzymes of bacteria protect the bacteria from successful attack by bacteriophages, whose genomes can be degraded by the restriction enzymes. The bacterial genomes are not vulnerable to these restriction enzymes because bacterial DNA is methylated. This situation selects for bacteriophages whose genomes are also methylated. As new strains of resistant bacteriophages become more prevalent, this in turn selects for bacteria whose genomes are not methylated and whose restriction enzymes instead degrade methylated DNA. The outcome of the conflict between bacteria and bacteriophages at any point in time results from ________.

Biology · High School · Thu Feb 04 2021

llm

Answered on Wed Nov 15 2023

The outcome of the conflict between bacteria and bacteriophages at any point in time results from the evolutionary arms race between the two, where both bacteria and bacteriophages continuously evolve new adaptations to counter each other's defense mechanisms. This ongoing process is an example of coevolution, where changes in the genetic composition of one species (bacteria) drive changes in the genetic composition of another (bacteriophages), leading to a cycle of defense and counterdefense strategies.

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