Discuss the mechanisms by which antibiotic resistance genes can be horizontally transferred and the significance of this in terms of clinical antibiotic resistance. Solution The mechanisms by which antibiotic resistance genes can be horizontally transferred are: Transformation :Process by which bacteria take up DNA from outside environment. Conjugation : Process by which bacteria transfers gene to other cell directly through a plasmid via cell to cell contact. Transduction :Process by which gene is transferred from one bacteria to other via bacteriophage. The significance of this is that pathogenic bacteria continue to evolve thus resulting in bacteria that become more resistant to bacteria.This in turn poses difficulties to identify new strains produced and design drugs for them..