A permanent, inheritable change in the genetic information is called a/an

A. conjugation: Conjugation is the transfer of genetic material between bacterial cells through direct cell-to-cell contact, usually via a pilus. It requires live donor and recipient cells and is not mediated by DNA from a dead cell.

B. mitosis: Mitosis is the process of eukaryotic cell division, resulting in two genetically identical daughter cells. It does not involve horizontal gene transfer or the uptake of DNA from other cells.

C. transmission: Transmission is a general term for the spread of organisms or genetic material but does not specifically describe the process in which a dead cell’s DNA is incorporated into a living recipient cell.

D. transformation: Transformation is the process by which a competent bacterial cell takes up DNA fragments from a dead or lysed cell in its environment. This exogenous DNA can be incorporated into the recipient’s genome, resulting in a genetically altered cell, a mechanism first described in Streptococcus pneumoniae by Griffith.

E. transduction: Transduction is the transfer of bacterial DNA from one cell to another via bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria). Unlike transformation, it requires a viral vector rather than direct uptake of free DNA from a dead cell.

A. an extremophile: Extremophiles are organisms that thrive in extreme environmental conditions, such as very high or very low pH, salinity, or pressure. While thermophiles can be considered a type of extremophile, the term extremophile is broader and does not specifically describe organisms adapted primarily to high temperatures.

B. thermoduric: Thermoduric organisms are those that can survive short exposures to high temperatures but do not necessarily grow optimally at those temperatures. They are often heat-resistant spores or bacteria that survive pasteurization, rather than thriving at 45–60°C.

C. a facultative psychrophile: Facultative psychrophiles are organisms capable of growing at low temperatures but can tolerate higher temperatures. Their optimal growth range is typically below 20°C, making this classification inconsistent with a 45–60°C growth range.

D. a thermophile: Thermophiles are microorganisms that grow optimally at elevated temperatures, typically between 45°C and 80°C. They possess enzymes and cellular structures adapted to resist denaturation at high temperatures, which allows them to thrive in environments such as hot springs, compost piles, or industrial processes.

E. a psychrophile: Psychrophiles are cold-loving organisms that grow optimally at temperatures below 15°C and are adapted to Arctic, Antarctic, or deep-sea habitats. A growth range of 45–60°C is far beyond their tolerance, making this classification incorrect.