What process involves the transfer of genes by a virus?

The process that involves the transfer of genes by a virus is known as transduction. In this context, transduction specifically refers to the method by which bacterial viruses, or bacteriophages, facilitate the transfer of genetic material between bacteria. During this process, a bacteriophage infects a bacterial cell and may accidentally incorporate a piece of the bacterial DNA into its own genetic material. When this virus infects another bacterial cell, it can introduce this genetic material into the new host, allowing for genetic recombination and diversity among bacterial populations.

In contrast, translation refers to the process of synthesizing proteins from messenger RNA (mRNA), while transcription involves the synthesis of mRNA from a DNA template. These processes are essential for gene expression but do not involve the transfer of genes by a virus. Transformation, on the other hand, is a process where bacteria take up free DNA from their environment, which is not related to viral activity. Thus, transduction is the correct choice, as it specifically describes the gene transfer mechanism mediated by viruses.