Concept
Bacterial conjugation
Gene transfer through cell-to-cell contact
kon-juh-GAY-shun
High-yield clue
Conjugation is the pilus-mediated, contact-dependent transfer of a plasmid from an F+ donor to an F- recipient.
Overview
A mechanism of horizontal gene transfer in which DNA (usually a plasmid) moves from a donor to a recipient cell through direct contact via a conjugative (sex) pilus. It is the main way resistance plasmids spread between bacteria.
Classification
- Horizontal gene transfer
- Requires cell-to-cell contact
- Sex-pilus mediated
- Encoded by tra genes
Lab & identification clues
- F+/F- donor-recipient vocabulary
- Hfr high-frequency recombination concept
- tra-gene transfer-machinery vocabulary
Associations
- Spread of resistance plasmids
- Requires a conjugative plasmid
- Wide host-range transfer vocabulary
Commonly confused with
- Transformation
- Transduction
Frequently asked questions
What is Bacterial conjugation?
A mechanism of horizontal gene transfer in which DNA (usually a plasmid) moves from a donor to a recipient cell through direct contact via a conjugative (sex) pilus. It is the main way resistance plasmids spread between bacteria.
What is the high-yield clue for Bacterial conjugation?
Conjugation is the pilus-mediated, contact-dependent transfer of a plasmid from an F+ donor to an F- recipient.
What is Bacterial conjugation associated with?
Bacterial conjugation is associated with Spread of resistance plasmids, Requires a conjugative plasmid, and Wide host-range transfer vocabulary.
What is Bacterial conjugation commonly confused with?
Bacterial conjugation is commonly confused with Transformation and Transduction.
Original microbiology concept summary. Sources checked: OpenStax Microbiology 2e, NCBI Bookshelf Medical Microbiology, and CDC/WHO topic pages where applicable; reviewed 2026-06. Educational only; no diagnosis, treatment selection, infection-control instructions, or specimen-handling guidance.