Final answer:
Specialized transduction is the process in which bacterial genes near the prophage integration site are packaged into a phage head due to improper excision of the prophage from a bacterial chromosome.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mechanism by which improper excision of a prophage from a bacterial chromosome results in the packaging of bacterial genes near the integration site into a phage head is called specialized transduction. This process is a form of horizontal gene transfer, which occurs at the end of the lysogenic cycle when conditions such as ultraviolet light or chemical exposure induce the prophage to excise and the bacteriophage to enter the lytic cycle. An error during the excision can cause bacterial DNA adjacent to the integration site to be packaged along with viral DNA into the phage head. Upon infection of a new bacterium, this genetic material can integrate into the new host's chromosome, potentially providing new properties, such as antibiotic resistance or new metabolic capabilities.