The role of plasmids in conjugation was first described by Lederberg and Tatum (1946) in which bacteria?
H. influenza
Pseudomonas
Escherichia coli
M. Tuberculosis
Bacterial conjugation was first described by Lederberg and Tatum (1946) in a strain of E.coli called K12 (carried a conjugative plasmid F) The F factor: The F plasmid, also called F factor, is a transfer factor that contains the genetic information, essential for controlling mating process of the bacteria during conjugation. The F plasmid of Escherichia coli is the prototype for feility plasmids in Gram-negative bacteria. Strains of E. coli with F+ plasmid are called as donors, whereas plasmid are F- behave as recipients.
General Microbiology Pa 1 (History, Microscopy, Stains and Structure and Physiology of Bacteria)