Question

which best describes the different modes of bacterial reproduction?
○ in genetic recombination, two new genetically identical cells are produced.
○ in conjugation, a special sex pilus is required to connect two bacterial cells.
○ in transduction, a bacterium exchanges a piece of its own dna with another from the environment.
○ in transformation, bacterial dna is transferred from one bacterium to another by a replicating virus.

Explanation:

• Analyze each option:
• First option: Genetic recombination (like conjugation, transduction, transformation) involves genetic variation, not producing identical cells (binary fission does that). So this is incorrect.
• Second option: Conjugation in bacteria uses a sex pilus to connect two cells for DNA transfer. This is correct.
• Third option: Transduction is when a virus (bacteriophage) transfers DNA between bacteria, not a bacterium exchanging with the environment (that's transformation). So this is incorrect.
• Fourth option: Transformation is when bacteria take up DNA from the environment, not via a virus (that's transduction). So this is incorrect.

Answer:

B. In conjugation, a special sex pilus is required to connect two bacterial cells.