Question

genetically - engineered plasmid dna is taken into an existing bacterial cell. the bacterial cell now has new traits. this is an example of: influx conjugation conduction

Explanation:

Conjugation is a process in bacteria where genetic material (such as plasmid DNA) is transferred from one bacterium to another. In this case, the genetically - engineered plasmid DNA is taken into the bacterial cell (similar to the transfer in conjugation). Influx is a general term for the inward flow (not specific to genetic transfer in bacteria as described). Conduction is not a recognized term for genetic transfer in bacteria in this context.

Answer:

conjugation