Generalized transduction occurs when random pieces of bacterial DNA are packaged into a phage. It happens when a phage is in the lytic stage, at the moment that the viral DNA is packaged into phage heads. If the virus replicates using 'headful packaging', it attempts to fill the head with genetic material.

What is the process of generalized transduction?

Generalized transduction is the process by which any bacterial gene may be transferred to another bacterium via a bacteriophage, and typically carries only bacterial DNA and no viral DNA. In essence, this is the packaging of bacterial DNA into a viral envelope.

Which phage is mainly used to perform Generalised transduction?

In reality, only a very small minority of phage progeny (1 in 10,000) carries donor genes. Phages P1 and P22 both belong to a phage group that shows generalized transduction (that is, they transfer virtually any gene of the host chromosome).