What happens during bacterial conjugation?

During bacterial conjugation, a donor bacterium transfers genetic material to a recipient bacterium through direct contact. The process begins with the formation of a pilus by the donor, which attaches to the recipient cell. Once the cells are in close contact, the pilus retracts, and the transfer of DNA occurs. The DNA being transferred is typically a conjugative plasmid, though chromosomal DNA can also be mobilized under certain conditions. The DNA enters the recipient cell as a single strand, and both donor and recipient cells synthesize a complementary strand to complete the replication process. This event can introduce new traits into the recipient bacterium, such as antibiotic resistance or metabolic capabilities.