Which is the mechanism by which improper excision of a prophage from a bacterial chromosome results in packaging of bacterial genes near the integration site into a phage head?

conjugation

generalized transduction

specialized transduction

transformation

Specialized transduction.

Explanation:

Transduction may be defined as the process of introduction of foreign DNA from different source is introduced into the bacteria. This is a type of horizontal gene transfer in bacteria.

Two main types of transduction are generalized transduction and specialized transduction. Specialized transduction results in the improper excision of prophage. The prophage is from the bacterial chromosome that result in the packaging of the bacterial genes in the integration site in the phage head.

Thus, the correct answer is option (3).