Question

Why was transformation, a mechanism for horizontal gene transfer (HGT), used which explains how Neisseria gonorrhoeae acquired human DNA? Why was conjugation and transduction not used for this HGT?

Answer 1

in adaptation and evolution both prokaryotes and eukaryotes Horizontal gene transfer plays an important role. transformation is characterized by the uptake, integration and expression of extracellular DNA from the environment into a recipient cell that is naturally competent The ability to express natural competence has been described in at least 60 species of bacteria in which Neisseria gonorrhoeae is one of them

conjugation and transduction not used for this HGT because in transformation it involves uptake of short fragments of naked DNA by naturally transformable bacteria while in conjugation and trandsduction they express resistance as coded by these newly acquired resistance genes from resistant donors can then make previously susceptible bacteria.

in transduction  bacteriophage infects the recipient bacterium

in conjugation bacterium transfers DNA to the recipient by mating.