Horizontal gene transfer

Bacteria have three methods for horizontally transferring DNA: [blank_start]conjugation[blank_end], [blank_start]transformation[blank_end] and [blank_start]transduction[blank_end].

Plasmids can replicate independently of the [blank_start]chromosome[blank_end]. They are transferred to neighbouring cells by structures on the [blank_start]surface[blank_end] of bacteria.

Some bacteria can directly take up free DNA from their [blank_start]environment[blank_end]. This is known as natural transformation. Environmental DNA often comes from other bacteria splitting open and [blank_start]releasing[blank_end] their contents.

[blank_start]Bacteriophage[blank_end] are viruses that only infect bacteria. Phage can integrate their genetic material with the bacterial chromosome during their [blank_start]lysogenic[blank_end] life cycle. Sometimes, when phage package their genetic material into coat proteins, they can accidentally package [blank_start]bacterial[blank_end] DNA as well. When these phage infect a new cell, DNA from the previous host is horizontally [blank_start]transferred[blank_end].

Label the highlights features of the diagram below.