Which process refers to the transfer of genetic material from one bacterium to another using a bacteriophage?

The correct term for the transfer of genetic material from one bacterium to another using a bacteriophage is transduction. During this process, a bacteriophage (a virus that infects bacteria) serves as a vector to introduce genetic material from one bacterium into another. When a bacteriophage infects a bacterium, it can inadvertently pick up bacterial DNA and carry it to another bacterial cell when it infects that second bacterium. This method of genetic exchange contributes to genetic diversity among bacterial populations.

Conjugation involves direct cell-to-cell transfer of DNA between bacteria, usually through a structure called a pilus, and does not involve bacteriophages. Transformation refers to the uptake of free-floating DNA from the environment by a bacterium and also does not involve a virus. Replication refers to the process by which a bacterium copies its own DNA prior to cell division, which is unrelated to the transfer of genetic material between different bacteria. Therefore, transduction specifically signifies the role of bacteriophages in genetic exchange, making it the correct answer.