Final answer:
Replication of the F plasmid during bacterial conjugation begins at the origin of replication, and through a rolling circle mechanism, a single-stranded F plasmid is transferred to the recipient F- cell, which then becomes F+.
Step-by-step explanation:
Replication during the transfer of an F plasmid begins at a specific site on the plasmid known as the origin of replication. During the process of bacterial conjugation, the F pilus of an F+ cell contacts an F- cell and brings the two cells together. A cytoplasmic bridge forms between the cells, and the F plasmid undergoes rolling circle replication. The single-stranded F plasmid is then transferred through the cytoplasmic bridge to the F- cell. In the F- cell, the complementary strand is synthesized to form a double-stranded F plasmid, effectively transforming this cell into an F+ cell capable of conjugation.
The F plasmid's origin of replication is vital for initiating this process, and the replicated strand of the F plasmid gets transferred to the recipient cell. This mechanism is essential for the spread of the F plasmid across a bacterial population, eventually leading to a situation in which all cells may become F+ cells.