A conjugation pilus allows bacteria to?

A conjugation pilus allows bacteria to establish direct contact with a recipient cell, facilitating the transfer of genetic material. The pilus, typically encoded by a conjugative plasmid, acts as a bridge between the donor and recipient cells. Once the pilus connects the two cells, it retracts, bringing them closer together to form a mating pair, enabling DNA transfer through the conjugation machinery. The pilus plays a crucial role in the initial stages of bacterial conjugation.