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Bacterial conjugation
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<p>Bacterial conjugation is the transfer of genetic material between <a href="/facts/Bacteria/wC8xSCsU">bacterial cells</a> by direct cell-to-cell contact or by a bridge-like connection between two cells. This takes place through a <a href="/facts/Pilus/xCNEXUdy">pilus</a>. It is a <a href="/facts/Parasexual_cycle/QYVX93uv">parasexual</a> mode of reproduction in bacteria. </p> <p>It is a mechanism of <a href="/facts/Horizontal_gene_transfer/FPyUIsf2">horizontal gene transfer</a> as are <a href="/facts/Transformation_(genetics)/n82cCRCu">transformation</a> and <a href="/facts/Transduction_(genetics)/nk0833JV">transduction</a> although these two other mechanisms do not involve cell-to-cell contact. </p><p>Classical <i>E. coli</i> bacterial conjugation is often regarded as the bacterial equivalent of <a href="/facts/Sexual_reproduction/hmsXy53s">sexual reproduction</a> or <a href="/facts/Mating/o2voslGF">mating</a>, since it involves the exchange of genetic material. However, it is not sexual reproduction, since no exchange of gamete occurs, and indeed no <a href="/facts/Biogenesis/MLDSs7aJ">generation of a new organism</a>: instead, an existing organism is transformed. During classical <i>E. coli</i> conjugation, the <i>donor</i> cell provides a conjugative or mobilizable genetic element that is most often a <a href="/facts/Plasmid/yf59JVlA">plasmid</a> or <a href="/facts/Transposon/WbVMhuWR">transposon</a>. Most conjugative plasmids have systems ensuring that the <i>recipient</i> cell does not already contain a similar element. </p><p>The genetic information transferred is often beneficial to the recipient. Benefits may include <a href="/facts/Antibiotic_resistance/jsbAywgx">antibiotic resistance</a>, <a href="/facts/Xenobiotic/0M2LAyEx">xenobiotic</a> tolerance or the ability to use new <a href="/facts/Metabolites/nAyywVtA">metabolites</a>. Other elements can be detrimental, and may be viewed as bacterial <a href="/facts/Parasitism/HWPcgky7">parasites</a>. </p><p>Conjugation in <i><a href="/facts/Escherichia_coli/nR4Gvl56">Escherichia coli</a></i> by spontaneous zygogenesis and in <i><a href="/facts/Mycobacterium_smegmatis/MnX1FbGK">Mycobacterium smegmatis</a></i> by distributive conjugal transfer differ from the better studied classical <i>E. coli</i> conjugation in that these cases involve substantial blending of the parental <a href="/facts/Genome/31Sm08JT">genomes</a>. </p>