One species of bacteria is resistant to treatment with antibiotics, meaning it can survive in the presence of antibiotics. Another bacterial species is sensitive to antibiotics, meaning it dies in the presence of antibiotics. The two species of bacteria were mixed together accidentally in a laboratory setting. When analyzed soon after mixing, the sensitive species had gained antibiotic resistance. What is the most likely reason for this?

a. The two species of bacteria mated with each other and produced antibiotic resistant offspring.
b. Exposure to antibiotics caused random mutations in the sensitive strain and allowed it to develop antibiotic resistance.
c. The sensitive bacterial species gained genetic material from the resistant strain that allowed it to become resistant to antibiotics.
d. Cells from both species fused with each other causing the sharing of genetic information between the different species.