1. 1 Donor cell attaches to a recipient cell with its pilus. The pilus draws the cells together. Chromosome F plasmid Conjugation pilus F + cellF – cell

2. The cells contact one another. 1 2 Donor cell attaches to a recipient cell with its pilus. The pilus draws the cells together. Chromosome F plasmid Conjugation pilus F + cellF – cell

3. The cells contact one another. The plasmid replicates one of its strands and transfers the daughter strand to the recipient. 1 2 3 Donor cell attaches to a recipient cell with its pilus. The pilus draws the cells together. Chromosome F plasmid Conjugation pilus F + cellF – cell

4. The cells contact one another. The plasmid replicates one of its strands and transfers the daughter strand to the recipient. 1 2 3 4 The recipient simultaneously synthesizes a complementary strand to become an F + cell. Donor cell attaches to a recipient cell with its pilus. The pilus draws the cells together. Chromosome F plasmid Conjugation pilus F + cell F – cell