Which agent carries chromosomal DNA from one bacterium to another during transduction?
AA plasmid crossing the cell wall
BA pilus joining two live cells
CA bacteriophage infecting the cell
DA capsule shed into the environment
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. A bacteriophage infecting the cell
1. Bacteriophages are the viruses that infect bacteria.
2. While infecting, a phage sometimes also moves short pieces of chromosomal DNA from one bacterium to another.
3. The result is a recombinant organism, and that transfer route is called transduction.
4. A pilus is the conjugation route, so it belongs to a different mechanism.
5. A capsule is a protective coat and carries no genes anywhere.
_Source: OpenStax Biology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 22 "Prokaryotes: Bacteria and Archaea", section 22.2 Structure of Prokaryotes_
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