What process involves the transfer of genetic material between two bacteria?

The process that involves the transfer of genetic material between two bacteria is conjugation. During conjugation, one bacterium forms a physical connection, often through a structure called a pilus, to another bacterium. This connection allows for the direct transfer of DNA, typically in the form of a plasmid, from the donor cell to the recipient cell. This transfer can enhance the genetic diversity of bacteria and contribute to processes like antibiotic resistance.

Binary fission refers to the asexual reproduction method in which a single bacterial cell divides into two identical daughter cells, but it does not involve the transfer of genetic material between different bacteria. The lysogenic cycle is associated with the integration of viral DNA into a host bacterium's genome, rather than the exchange of genetic material between bacterial cells. Transformation involves the uptake of free DNA from the environment by a bacterium, which is another method of genetic exchange but does not directly involve another living bacterial cell.