<prompt> Which of the following is the most widespread method of genetic transfer among bacteria?TransformationTransductionLysogenic conversionConjugation  <response>: Option a, b, c, d There are three mechanisms of horizontal gene transfer in bacteria:- 1.Transformation 2. Transduction 3. Conjugation Most common mechanism, It was discovered first by Lederberg and Tatum. Conjugation plays an impoant role in the transfer of plasmids coding for antibacterial drug resistance and bacteriocin production . R factor or the resistance factor is a plasmid which has two components. o Resistance transfer factor F is the plasmid responsible for conjugational transfersimilar to F factor o Resistance determinant r: Codes for resistance to one drug. An R factor can have several r determinants. 