Sex in bacteria?

Bacteria reproduce through a process called binary fission, in which a single cell divides into two identical daughter cells. This process does not involve sexual reproduction, as there is no exchange of genetic material between two different individuals.

However, some bacteria are capable of a form of genetic exchange known as horizontal gene transfer. This can occur through processes such as conjugation, transformation, and transduction, in which bacteria can transfer genetic material, such as plasmids or DNA fragments, between themselves. While this process can lead to genetic diversity and adaptation in bacterial populations, it is not considered sexual reproduction in the same way that it occurs in more complex organisms.