Final answer:
In bacteriophages, genetic exchange is facilitated by transduction, where DNA is moved from one bacterium to another. In contrast, plasmids use conjugation, involving DNA transfer between prokaryotic cells through a pilus.
Step-by-step explanation:
For phages, the genetic exchange occurs through transduction while plasmids transfer through conjugation.
Transduction is a process where bacteriophages transfer genetic information between hosts using either generalized or specialized transduction. During the transduction process, bacteriophages can transfer bacterial DNA from one bacterium to another during sequential infections. This can result in a recombinant organism with new genetic traits.
Conjugation is another method of genetic exchange in prokaryotes, where DNA is transferred between cells through a pilus. This primarily involves the transfer of plasmids, which are small DNA molecules that are separate from the bacterial chromosome and can replicate independently.