Bacteria have a unique characteristic called horizontal gene transfer, which allows them to acquire genes from other organisms through mechanisms like conjugation, transformation, and transduction. This enables them to obtain genes that are not present within their own genome. Humans, on the other hand, do not possess this remarkable ability to easily acquire genes from other sources outside of our own DNA.

In other words, bacteria can access a broader pool of genetic material through horizontal gene transfer, leading to rapid adaptation and the acquisition of new traits. This process is less prevalent in humans, as our genes are primarily inherited from our parents and mutations play a more significant role in introducing genetic variations.