In which process is DNA transferred between cells by a virus?

The process in which DNA is transferred between cells by a virus is known as transduction. In this mechanism, a bacteriophage, which is a type of virus that infects bacteria, carries genetic material from one bacterial cell to another. During this interaction, the bacteriophage injects DNA into the host bacterium, which can then integrate this foreign DNA into its own genome. This process is an important method of horizontal gene transfer in bacteria and can play a significant role in genetic diversity and the evolution of these organisms.

In contrast, transformation refers to the uptake of free DNA from the environment by a bacterial cell, while conjugation involves direct transfer of DNA between two cells that are temporarily joined through physical contact. Transfusion does not relate to DNA transfer in this context and is not a biological term commonly associated with genetic exchange. Understanding these different mechanisms of genetic transfer is crucial in microbiology and genetics, as they impact everything from antibiotic resistance to genetic engineering.