A mating bridge, also known as a conjugation or population bridge, is a connection between two bacterial cells that provides a passageway for DNA in

bacterial conjugation Bacterial conjugation is the transfer of genetic material between bacterial cells by direct cell-to-cell contact or by a bridge-like connection between two cells. This takes place through a pilus. It is a parasexual mode of reproduction in bacteri ...

A mating bridge is different from a sex pilus, which is a structure made by an F⁺ strain bacterium in

. The pili (plural) act as attachment sites that promote the binding of bacteria to each other. In this way, an F⁺ strain makes physical contact with an F⁻ strain. Once contact is made, the pili shorten and thereby draw the donor and recipient cells closer together. A conjugation bridge is then formed between the two cells, which provides a passageway for DNA transfer.

References

{{Reflist Bacteriology Organelles