Horizontal Gene Transfer
Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a process by which DNA is transferred from one organism to another without involving reproduction. It allows genes to be spread across species, and is especially important in bacteria. HGT is integral to the development of antibiotic-resistant strains, as well as providing the mechanism for introducing beneficial traits into an organism. It may also be responsible for the spread of disease-causing genes between species. Understanding HGT is crucial to the development of new antibiotics, as well as to the conservation of biodiversity.
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