Final answer:
The F plasmid is involved in the process of conjugation, which is the direct transfer of DNA between prokaryotic cells through a conjugation pilus.
Step-by-step explanation:
The F plasmid is involved in the process of conjugation. Conjugation is a mechanism of horizontal gene transfer in prokaryotes where DNA is directly transferred from one cell to another. This transfer occurs through a conjugation pilus. The cells must be in direct contact for the DNA transfer to happen. The F plasmid, also known as the fertility plasmid, encodes the machinery required to form this conjugation pilus, which includes the proteins that compose the pilus and those involved in plasmid replication. Through conjugation, F plasmid-encoded genes can be transmitted from an F+ cell (a donor with the F plasmid) to an F- cell (a recipient without the F plasmid), facilitating the spread of genetic material including, notably, antibiotic resistance genes within a bacterial population.