Final answer:
Transduction is the term that describes genetic transfer between bacterial cells that is mediated by a virus.
Step-by-step explanation:
Transduction is the term that describes genetic transfer between bacterial cells that is mediated by a virus. In this process, bacteriophages, which are viruses that infect bacteria, transfer genetic information from one bacterium to another.
During transduction, the bacteriophage incorporates a fragment of the donor bacterium's DNA into its own viral DNA. When the phage infects another bacterium, it injects its DNA, including the transferred DNA from the donor bacterium. This transferred DNA can then be integrated into the recipient bacterium's genome.
This mechanism of gene transfer plays a significant role in bacterial evolution and the acquisition of new genetic traits, including antibiotic resistance.