How does conjugation help bacteria

How does that work? Micro-organisms such as bacteria use a pilus plural: pili to exchange genetic material. A pilus is a hair-like tube used to connect with another bacteria. Circular strings of DNA plasmids are then exchanged via the pilus. This process is called conjugation. Bacteria only exchange hereditary material and do not multiply during conjugation. Thus, genes carried on the conjugative element, which are beneficial for the host cell in particular habitats e. The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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