The bacterial conjugation, the main route for horizontal gene transfer to prokaryotes, is a quick way for the evolution of bacterial genomes leading to organisms with new ecological or pathogenic characteristics. The acquisition of antibiotic resistance by pathogens is related to the conjugal transfer of mobile genetic elements. The transfer of genes between kingdoms, from bacteria to plants and fungi, are special cases of conjugation and even in cell division and sporulation, there are similar mechanisms for transfer.

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