Question

fill in the blank question

donor and recipient bacterial cells are connected by the sex during conjugation.

Explanation:

Identify the mechanism of bacterial conjugation

Bacterial conjugation is a mechanism of horizontal gene transfer where DNA is directly transferred from a donor bacterium to a recipient bacterium through physical contact.

Determine the connecting structure

The physical connection between the donor and recipient cells is established by a specialized, hollow, hair-like appendage called a sex pilus (plural: pili).

Answer:

Donor and recipient bacterial cells are connected by the sex <blank>pilus</blank> during conjugation.