When two viruses infect a cell at the same time, there is a possibility of gene exchange between the two. This is called ____.

A) gene swapping
B) horizontal gene transfer
C) viral exchange
D) viral reassortment
E) conjugation

Viral reassortment, also known as genetic recombination or reassortment, occurs when two different strains of a virus infect the same host cell and exchange genetic material. This can lead to the creation of new, hybrid strains with unique characteristics. Horizontal gene transfer (B) typically refers to the transfer of genetic material between organisms, rather than between viruses within a cell. Gene swapping (A) and viral exchange (C) are not commonly used terms in virology. Conjugation (E) is a mechanism of bacterial genetic exchange, rather than viral.