Transduction

Transduction is the transfer of DNA from one bacterium to another by a phage.

Generalized transducing phages accidently package host DNA into a small fraction of the phage capsids produced during lytic infection. Phage P1 is a commonly used generalized transducing phage for E. coli. Any region of the bacterial chromosome can be transferred by a generalized transducing phage.

Specialized transducing phages are phage that have a segment of bacterial DNA integrated into their genome. An example of a specialized transducing phage is lambda dgal, which carries the gal operon from E. coli.

Generalized transduction in E. coli

Transduction with P1

Protocols for P1 transduction have been reviewed by Thomason, Costantino, and Court.