Snider, Philip2022-07-072022-07-07196723155158https://hdl.handle.net/10657/10449Donor strains of E. coli have hollow, filamentous appendages (F-pill) to which a number of RNA bacteriophages specifically adsorb. Two principal models of bacterial conjugation have been proposed which involve F-pill: (1) the DNA from the donor bacterium travels into the recipient bacterium through the F-pilus, (2) the F-pilus holds the recipient bacterium to the donor during conjugation. In an effort to distinguish between the two models, wild type donor (F-pilus) specific phages were added to donor bacteria before, during, and after mixing with recipient bacteria. The efficiency of conjugation was reduced. [...]application/pdfenThis item is protected by copyright but is made available here under a claim of fair use (17 U.S.C. Section 107) for non-profit research and educational purposes. Users of this work assume the responsibility for determining copyright status prior to reusing, publishing, or reproducing this item for purposes other than what is allowed by fair use or other copyright exemptions. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires express permission of the copyright holder.Thesisreformatted digital