Final answer:
Transduction is the process where bacteriophages transfer DNA between bacteria, which may result in the receiving bacteria acquiring new genetic traits. There are two types of transduction: generalized and specialized.
Step-by-step explanation:
The exchange of DNA between bacteria by means of bacteriophage is called transduction. During this process, bacteriophages, which are viruses that infect bacteria, can transfer DNA from one bacterium to another in sequential infections. There are two distinct types of transduction: generalized and specialized transduction. In generalized transduction, a random piece of bacterial DNA is accidentally included in a phage during viral assembly and is transferred to a new host cell. Specialized transduction occurs when a prophage is excised imprecisely from the bacterial chromosome, carrying with it a piece of bacterial chromosome that is then transferred to the next host bacterium. This DNA can recombine with the host's DNA, potentially endowing it with new genetic traits, such as antibiotic resistance or pathogenic capabilities.
Other modes of DNA exchange among bacteria include transformation, where prokaryotes pick up DNA from their environment, and conjugation, where a direct transfer of DNA between bacteria occurs through a mating bridge or pilus.