What type of transfer occurs in transduction?

• A. Transfer of lipids between membranes
• B. Transfer of carbohydrates into the cytoplasm
• C. Transfer of nucleic acids from viruses to cells
• D. Transfer of amino acids during protein synthesis

Answer: (C)

In the context of transduction, the correct answer relates to the transfer of nucleic acids from viruses to cells. Transduction is a process by which foreign DNA is introduced into a bacterial cell by a virus, specifically a bacteriophage. During this process, a bacteriophage infects a host bacterium and inadvertently incorporates segments of the bacterial DNA into its own viral genome. When the bacteriophage replicates and subsequently infects another bacterium, it transfers this genetic material, allowing for the potential alteration of the recipient cell's genotype.

This process is significant in the study of genetics and molecular biology, as it can lead to genetic recombination and variability within bacterial populations, thereby contributing to processes like the spread of antibiotic resistance. The other options present different biological processes but do not correspond to transduction in the context of virology and bacterial genetics.