Final answer:
Conjugation is a type of horizontal gene transfer in prokaryotes, where a cell receives DNA from another cell through a sex pilus. The sex pilus brings the donor and recipient cells into contact, allowing for DNA transfer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Conjugation is a type of horizontal gene transfer in prokaryotes, where a cell receives DNA from another cell through a sex pilus. The sex pilus, also known as the conjugation pilus, is a hollow tube composed of protein encoded by the conjugation plasmid that brings two bacterial cells into contact with each other for the process of conjugation. In this process, the donor cell attaches the sex pilus to the recipient cell, and genetic material is transferred from the donor cell to the recipient cell through the sex pilus.