Final answer:
The components mentioned (left and right border sequences, selectable marker, bom site) are associated with genetic engineering, specifically in the context of creating transgenic plants using Agrobacterium tumefaciens.
Step-by-step explanation:
Left and right border sequences, selectable marker, bom site for mobilization into Agrobacterium are associated with genetic engineering. These components are crucial elements of a plasmid used as a vector in the process of transferring genes into host cells, such as the mechanism used in creating transgenic plants. Specifically, left and right border sequences are essential for the successful integration of foreign DNA into the plant genome by the bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens. A selectable marker, usually an antibiotic resistance gene, allows for the identification of transformed cells, while the bom (basis of mobility) site is necessary for the plasmid's mobilization into Agrobacterium. This plays a critical role in the production of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Among the processes of horizontal gene transfer, conjugation is naturally responsible for the spread of antibiotic resistance genes within a bacterial population. However, genetic engineering exploits technologies such as the introduction of recombinant DNA into host cells to enhance or modify the characteristics of an organism in a directed manner.