7.What mechanism of gene transfer do you think was responsible for transferring the antibiotic resistant gene between these two strains of bacteria

The mechanism by which the antibiotic-resistant gene is transferred between the two strains of bacteria is generally called Horizontal gene transfer for HGT for short. HGT comprises two mechanisms:

1. Conjugation and

2. Transduction

Explanation:

1. Conjugation in bacteria is comparable to copulation in mammals. In this case, two bacteria connect to each other using something called a Pilus. When the connection is done, DNA can be transferred from one cell to the other (A to B and/or B to A). The bacterium which eventually gives the DNA is referred to as the donor cell. Donation of DNA is made possible by a phenomenon called the F factor. F here stands for fertility.

2. During transduction, the transfer of the antibiotic-resistant gene between two strains is purely accidental.

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