A 59-year-old female has been diagnosed with E. coli infection following the consumption of contaminated meat. THE patient is exhibiting a high fever, severe abdominal cramping, and diarrhea. As the RN, you provide supportive care and fluid resuscitation as ordered. You are familiar with the E. coli bacterium, and provide education to the patient and her family regarding the genetics of this bacterium.
As the RN, you instruct the family that the transfer of genetic material can involve contact between 2 bacterial cells, DNA can pass from one cell to the other through a pilus during this process, which is called
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