What is a lateral gene transfer

There are three known mechanisms of lateral gene transfer:

Transformation Transduction Conjugation

Extra:

Transformation: The acquisition of naked DNA.

Example:

Lysed cells; by a recipient cell.

Horizontal gene transfer or lateral gene transfer is the movement of genetic material between unicellular and/or multicellular organisms other than by the transmission of DNA from parent to offspring. HGT is an important factor in the evolution of many organisms.