Prokaryotes may pick up pieces of DNA from the environment or other bacteria and incorporate these pieces into their own genome through

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Horizontal gene transfer is the transfer of genetic material between organisms that are not parent and offspring, and it is a major way that prokaryotes acquire new genes. This can occur through three mechanisms: transformation, transduction, and conjugation. In transformation, a bacterium takes up free DNA from the environment; in transduction, bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) carry bacterial DNA from one bacterium to another; and in conjugation, bacteria can transfer genetic material directly through physical contact using a pilus. All of these mechanisms allow prokaryotes to acquire new genetic traits that may be beneficial for survival and adaptation.

Prokaryotes May Pick Up Pieces of DNA from the Environment