What is the process called for the transfer of bacterial DNA using special viruses?

The process referred to in the question is known as transduction, which specifically involves the transfer of bacterial DNA from one bacterium to another through the mediation of special viruses called bacteriophages. During transduction, a bacteriophage infects a bacterial cell and can incorporate a fragment of the host bacterial DNA into its own viral genome. When this bacteriophage subsequently infects another bacterial cell, it can transfer that DNA into the new host, allowing for genetic variation and the potential for new traits to be expressed in the recipient bacterium.

This mechanism is particularly important in the study of horizontal gene transfer, where bacteria acquire genetic material from other bacteria rather than inheriting it from a parent organism, thereby contributing to genetic diversity and the development of antibiotic resistance among bacterial populations.