The three main modes of genetic transfer for prokaryotes are transformation, transduction, and conjugation. Transformation occurs when a bacterium picks up a piece of genetic material from its external environment and incorporates it into its own genome. Transduction is genetic transfer using a bacteriophage as a vector. Conjugation is direct gene transfer via sex pili.

The IIR bacteria became deadly when exposed to the remains of the IIIS bacteria. This means that the IIR bacteria managed to receive genetic material from the environment and incorporate it into their genome. This is an example of transformation, a process that results in genetic recombination. In this case, the recombination made the formerly harmless bacteria deadly in mice.

Transduction is the process by which new genetic information is introduced to a bacterium via a vector, such as a bacteriophage. Conjugation is the transfer of genetic material between bacteria via a sex pilus. Binary fission is not a means of recombination; rather, the parent cell divides to produce two identical copies of itself.

Beginning the process of conjugation requires the trait encoded by the F (fertility) plasmid. Transformation is the uptake of naked DNA, transduction is the transfer of genetic material via a virus, and translocation is the movement of a ribosome during protein translation.

Conjugation is a type of genetic recombination that requires one bacterium to have the F-plasmid in order to create a sex pilus. This sex pilus will connect with another bacterium and allow DNA to pass between the bacteria.

Transduction is the transfer of genetic information to a bacterium via a vector, such as a bacteriophage. Transformation occurs when a bacterial cell receives genetic material from its surrounding environment. Binary fission does not involve recombination, and is the term for bacterial cell division that results in two identical offspring from a single parental cell.

Bacterial cells are capable of conjugation, a form of sexual reproduction. The process involves the formation of a bridge between bacterial cells that facilitates the movement of genetic material from one cell to the other. This bridge is called a sex pilus. A plasmid is a circular extrachromosomal DNA fragment. To initiate conjugation, a bacterium must possess a plasmid that enables formation of the sex pilus.

Bacterial cells can also exchange genetic material indirectly via viral vectors (certain bacteriophages) that carry bacterial genetic information from one cell to another; however, this does not occur in conjugation. It occurs in another form of sexual reproduction called transduction.

Conjugation is a form of sexual reproduction in bacterial cells. It involves formation of a bridge, called the sex pilus, between two bacterial cells. After sex pilus formation, the donor cell will pass genetic information to the recipient cell via the sex pilus. In order to initiate conjugation, a bacterial cell must contain the genes that code for the sex pilus, which are usually found on a specific plasmid. Recall that a plasmid contains the extrachromosomal DNA (found outside the bacterial cells’ chromosomes), whereas the nucleoid contains the chromosomal DNA. Sex pilus genes are always found on the plasmid, and can be passed from one cell to another during conjugation. This exchange increases the number of cells capable of forming the sex pilus, increasing the ability for bacterial cells to perform sexual reproduction and increase genetic variation.

The only similarity between conjugation and meiosis is that both processes are types of sexual reproduction. Remember that sexual reproduction is characterized by the presence of genetic recombination (the ability to exchange genetic material between two DNA molecules). The result of both processes are daughter cells that are genetically unique from the parent cells.

In meiosis, genetic recombination occurs during crossing over in prophase I. In conjugation, genetic recombination occurs when the DNA from the donor bacterial cell is incorporated into the recipient bacterial cell. Only meiosis produces four daughter cells; conjugation produces only two.

Antibiotic resistance genes are often found on plasmids, which are small DNA molecules which are easily transfered to other prokaryotic cells.

Antibiotic resistant genes are commonly transferred through plasmids. Plasmids are small, circular, extra-chromosomal pieces of DNA that contain supplemental genes, which can be passed from bacteria to bacteria.

Plasmids are phenomenally useful for a number of reasons. They are capable of autonomous replication inside a suitable host (such as simple prokaryotes). Because they are non-genomic DNA (not located in the nucleus), plasmids are easily isolated and separated from the host's DNA. It is also relatively easy to insert cloned DNA into plasmid vectors. This allows for expression of recombinant proteins in prokaryotic cells.