Conjugation

Sexual Reproduction in Bacteria
Sexuality in bacteria was first discovered by Tatum and Lederberg in 1947 in Escherichia coli. Gamete production and fusion are not present in bacteria. The only thing which happens in bacteria is genetic recombination. It means variation is there that does not involve gamete formation. Thus sexual reproduction in bacteria occurs by a method called Parasexuality. As a result, bacteria do not have true sexual reproduction; instead, genetic recombination occurs.
Genetic Recombination (Parasexuality)
There is no gamete formation, no gametic fusion only there is genetic recombination present in bacteria. Thus there is the transfer of genetic material from one bacteria to another bacteria, this method of genetic recombination is known as Parasexuality.