Concept
Version 6
Created by Boundless
Prokaryotic Reproduction
Modes of prokaryote reproduction
Besides binary fission, there are three other mechanisms by which prokaryotes can exchange DNA. In (a) transformation, the cell takes up prokaryotic DNA directly from the environment. The DNA may remain separate as plasmid DNA or be incorporated into the host genome. In (b) transduction, a bacteriophage injects DNA into the cell that contains a small fragment of DNA from a different prokaryote. In (c) conjugation, DNA is transferred from one cell to another via a mating bridge that connects the two cells after the pilus draws the two bacteria close enough to form the bridge.
Source
Boundless vets and curates high-quality, openly licensed content from around the Internet. This particular resource used the following sources:
"OpenStax College, Structure of Prokaryotes. October 16, 2013."
http://cnx.org/content/m44605/latest/Figure_22_02_09f.jpg
OpenStax CNX
CC BY 3.0.