Final answer:
During bacterial conjugation, the F plasmid is transferred from an F+ cell to an F-cell via a cytoplasmic bridge formed by the F pilus, contributing to genetic diversity in bacteria.
Step-by-step explanation:
The transfer of the F plasmid during conjugation involves the segregation of the two strands of the double helix and the movement of one of the strands into the recipient cell where both strands are replicated. During typical conjugation in E. coli, the F pilus of an F+ (donor) cell contacts an F- (recipient) cell. The pilus retracts to bring the two cell envelopes into contact, allowing a cytoplasmic bridge to form. Rolling circle replication of the F plasmid occurs in the F+ cell as a single-stranded copy of the F plasmid is transferred through the bridge to the F- cell, which then synthesizes the complementary strand, effectively converting it into an F+ cell capable of making its own conjugation pilus.
Genes on the E. coli F plasmid also encode proteins that prevent conjugation between F+ cells, ensuring the process only occurs between an F+ and an F- cell. Conjugation is a form of horizontal gene transfer that increases genetic diversity among bacterial populations.