Final answer:
The statement regarding the fertility factor being a mobile genetic element in the form of a plasmid is true. These plasmids play a vital role in bacterial conjugation, antibiotic resistance spread, and biotechnological applications such as genetic engineering and molecular cloning.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the fertility factor is a mobile genetic element called a plasmid containing genes for directing gene transfer between bacterial cells is true. In bacterial conjugation, a donor cell (F+ cell) uses an F pilus or sex pilus to attach to a recipient cell (F- cell) and transfers the F plasmid to it. This plasmid not only carries genes required for making the sex pilus but also for rolling circle replication. The phenomenon where the F plasmid integrates into the bacterial chromosome creating an Hfr cell can facilitate the transfer of chromosomal DNA to the recipient cell. Moreover, antibiotic resistance can spread via the conjugation of R plasmids, highlighting why antibiotic resistance genes are of significant concern in the medical community.
Plasmids play a critical role in research and medical applications, such as in genetic engineering and molecular cloning. They serve as vectors for genetic material in recombinant DNA technology, where a recombinant F plasmid can be moved to a recipient cell via conjugation, thus transforming the cell with new genetic information. This type of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) has numerous applications in biotechnology for the development of new medical treatments and transgenic organisms.