Plasmids, small circular DNA molecules found in bacteria, may contain antibiotic-resistance genes and have the ability to replicate independently. Bacteria can transfer these plasmids to one another, ...

As the number of antibiotic-resistant infections continues to rise, scientists are looking to bacteriophages (“phages”), viruses that infect bacteria, as an approach to tackling antibiotic resistance.

In all living organisms, DNA replication is essential to ensure the genetic fidelity of the next generation. However, bacteria can also transfer genetic information horizontally to other bacteria.