What Are Selectable and Screenable Phenotypes in Microbiology?

[University]

Homework Statement

Hello All,

I was given this article that I was suppose to summarize by finding background information on the experiment. This article is very complicated and hard to understand without finding background info. The course is Intro Microbiology and the topic relating to the article is Selectable vs Screenable Phenotypes

I really need some help in finding the background info. I goggle but could`t find anything. Your help in pointing me to links or suggestions are greatly appreciated. The Journal or article is below;

MudSacI, a Transposon with strong Selectable and Counterselectable Markers: Use for Rapid Mapping of Chromosomal Mutations in Salmonella typhimurium

Matthew Lawes and Stanley Maloy

Journal of Bacteriology, Mar 1995, p. 1383-1387, Vol. 177, No. 5

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

 

[Nino MMP]

Background Information: Selectable phenotypes refer to the ability of a cell to survive or grow in the presence of a certain selection agent, such as antibiotics. Screenable phenotypes, on the other hand, refer to the ability of a cell to be detected through physical or biochemical changes. In this study, the authors developed a transposon (MudSacI) that contains both selectable and counterselectable markers, allowing for rapid mapping of chromosomal mutations in Salmonella typhimurium. The transposon was designed to contain a marker conferring antibiotic resistance (Kanamycin) in order to select for the presence of MudSacI, and a counterselectable marker (Nalidixic acid) to allow for easy detection of the presence of MudSacI in cells that had lost the Kanamycin resistance gene. The authors also utilized a method known as “transposon tagging” in order to map the location of the chromosomal mutations.