Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
🧬 Gene-transferring ✍️ Verb-forming
conjugative

conjugative

9.5
Able to transfer genes between bacteria by direct contact
  • adjective
  • /ˈkɒn.dʒʊ.ɡeɪ.tɪv/
  • Specialized
translation icon : conjugativo
  • Bacteria often exchange genetic material through a conjugative process that enhances their resistance to antibiotics.

Examples

  • For example, several A. baumannii strains contain a large conjugative plasmid that harbors many antibiotic resistance genes as well as repressors of the T6SS 110.

    Academic text (2018)

  • The researcher studied how conjugative plasmids can facilitate the transfer of beneficial traits among bacterial populations.

  • " On the second day, two individuals fell in love and began to reproduce by a unique conjugative process.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • In microbiology, understanding conjugative mechanisms is crucial for developing new strategies to combat antibiotic resistance.

Synonyms

conjugational
vsconjugative
  • Specialized
9.4

The transfer of genes between cells or other living things

is specific to bacterial cases and implies ability to transfer genetic material

Surface Forms

conjugative positive

Morphology

conjugative = conjugate (semi-transparent) = conjugate + ive

Formed from 'conjugate' + '-ive', but the bacterial sense requires domain-specific knowledge of 'conjugation' so the relation may not be obvious to all learners.

Etymology

Conjugative comes from Latin parts con- 'together' and jug- 'yoke', a yoke being a simple tool that joins animals. So in biology, a conjugative element is one that can join two bacteria so it can pass genetic material from one cell to another.