Conjugation is a form of genetic exchange in which organisms exchange genetic information.

• A. Conjugation
• B. Fertilization
• C. Mitosis
• D. Meiosis

Answer: (A)

Conjugation is direct DNA transfer between cells, a form of genetic exchange that expands genetic variation. In bacteria, a donor cell with a fertility plasmid forms a pilus to connect to a recipient and passes DNA—often a plasmid carrying traits like antibiotic resistance—between them. This is horizontal gene transfer, spreading genes without cell division. Fertilization merges two gametes during sexual reproduction, mixing parental genomes but not via direct DNA transfer between two identical cells. Mitosis is simply cell division that produces identical copies, with no new genetic material exchanged between cells. Meiosis creates recombinant, haploid gametes within the same cell lineage, but again—it's not a direct exchange between two organisms. So the described process of organisms exchanging genetic information most closely matches conjugation.