**Core Concept**
Bacteria can acquire new characteristics through various mechanisms, including genetic exchange, gene mutation, and environmental influences. This process is essential for their survival, adaptation, and evolution within diverse ecosystems.

**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The correct answer is related to the fundamental concept of bacterial adaptation. Bacteria can acquire characteristics by genetic recombination, such as conjugation, transformation, or transduction. These mechanisms enable bacteria to share genes, leading to the exchange of genetic material and the creation of new strains. For example, conjugation involves the direct transfer of DNA from one bacterium to another through a specialized structure called a conjugation pilus.

**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** This option is not provided, but it could be a distractor related to a non-bacterial mechanism of adaptation.
**Option B:** This option is not provided, but it could be a distractor related to a non-genetic mechanism of adaptation.
**Option C:** This option is not provided, but it could be a distractor related to a non-bacterial mechanism of adaptation.

**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
One key concept to remember is that bacterial adaptation often occurs through horizontal gene transfer, which can lead to the spread of antibiotic resistance genes among bacterial populations.

**Correct Answer:** D.