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Bacterial DNA in human genome

Hi!
I know that viruses (such as HIV) can insert their DNA (from RNA) into human DNA in cells, but can bacteria do this as well? My first thought is that they can't because they can't get into human cells.
Thanks in advance,
Jade :smile:

(edited 5 years ago)

Reply 1

luce12341

Hm, I'm not 100% sure but I don't think so because the reason viruses do it is to replicate but bacteria replicate by binary fission so don't need to - the bacterial cells will invade the cells but don't inject their DNA into them, they just release toxins.

Reply 2

ProbablyJade

Original post by lucyv1234

Yea, that makes sense, i was just thinking because isn't some of human DNA bacterial DNA?

Reply 3

SarcAndSpark

Original post by ProbablyJade

Yea, that makes sense, i was just thinking because isn't some of human DNA bacterial DNA?

Are you thinking of mitochondrial DNA by any chance?

Reply 4

username1221160

Potentially yes, via horizontal gene transfer.

https://genomebiology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13059-015-0607-3

Reply 5

AlwaysBroke.

If this is for GCSE, the spec teaches that although bacteria contain RNA, they cannot inject. We are taught that bacteria simply release toxins that damages cells.

So no.

Reply 6

ProbablyJade

Original post by SarcAndSpark

Are you thinking of mitochondrial DNA by any chance?

Perhaps... that would make sense

Reply 7

ProbablyJade

Original post by mc_miah

If this is for GCSE, the spec teaches that although bacteria contain RNA, they cannot inject. We are taught that bacteria simply release toxins that damages cells.

So no.

I'm a-level and just wanted to know as opposed to academic reasons