Question

there are four steps in bacterial conjugation. the second step is missing in this list.

1. special sex pilus connects two cells.

2.

1. each cell makes a complementary dna strand.
2. the cells separate.

which is the missing step for the process of conjugation described?
○ two new, identical cells are produced.
○ the cell membrane elongates and pinches off.
○ some dna moves from one cell to another.
○ a dna molecule attaches to the cell membrane.

Explanation:

Bacterial conjugation is a horizontal gene transfer process. After the sex pilus connects two cells, the next key step is the transfer of genetic material (DNA) from the donor cell to the recipient cell. This occurs before both cells synthesize complementary DNA strands to complete their genomes, and before the cells separate. The other options describe processes from binary fission or unrelated steps, not conjugation's second stage.

Answer:

Some DNA moves from one cell to another.