Which process involves the direct transfer of genetic material between bacterial cells?

The process that involves the direct transfer of genetic material between bacterial cells is conjugation. During conjugation, a donor bacterium forms a physical connection with a recipient bacterium through a structure known as a pilus. Through this connection, the donor cell transfers a copy of its plasmid or genetic material to the recipient cell. This direct transfer plays a crucial role in genetic diversity and the spread of traits such as antibiotic resistance among bacterial populations.

In contrast, mutation refers to changes within the DNA sequence of an organism, which can occur spontaneously or through induced mechanisms but does not involve direct transfer between cells. Transformation involves the uptake of naked DNA from the environment by a bacterial cell, which means the genetic material is not transferred directly from another living cell. Transduction is a process in which bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) transfer genetic material from one bacterium to another, but this occurs via a viral mediator rather than direct cell-to-cell contact.