A mixed infection of two bacteriophage strains is often used for what purpose?

• A. To sequence bacteriophage genomes
• B. To measure bacteria resistance
• C. To study conjugation
• D. To map bacteriophage genes

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria, and studying their genetics can provide insights into viral behavior and bacterial interactions.
2. Recognize that a mixed infection involves two different strains of bacteriophages infecting the same bacterial host, which can lead to recombination events between the phage genomes.
3. Learn that genetic recombination in bacteriophages can be used to determine the relative positions of genes on the phage genome, a process known as genetic mapping.
4. Realize that by analyzing the frequency of recombination between different genetic markers, researchers can infer the distance between genes and construct a genetic map.
5. Conclude that the primary purpose of using a mixed infection of two bacteriophage strains is to map bacteriophage genes, as it allows for the study of genetic linkage and recombination events.