Transduction in bacteria is mediated by

Options

A. Plasmid vector
B. Phage vector
C. Cosmid
D. F-factor

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Transduction**: Transduction is a process of genetic recombination in bacteria where foreign DNA is introduced into a bacterial cell.

2. **Role of Viruses**: In the context of bacteria, transduction is primarily mediated by bacteriophages, which are viruses that infect bacteria.

3. **Mechanism of Transduction**: During transduction, a bacteriophage attaches to a bacterial cell and injects its genetic material. Sometimes, when the bacteriophage replicates, it mistakenly incorporates fragments of the bacterial DNA into its own genome.

4. **Transfer of DNA**: When this bacteriophage infects another bacterial cell, it can transfer the bacterial DNA it carries into the new host cell. This process can lead to genetic variation in the bacterial population.

5. **Conclusion**: Therefore, transduction in bacteria is mediated by bacteriophages (viruses).

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