Describe transformation and explain how it can affect bacteria.

Transformation is the process by which bacteria take up free DNA from their environment and incorporate it into their own genome. This can occur when bacteria are in a competent state, which may be naturally occurring or induced in a laboratory setting. Transformation allows bacteria to acquire new traits, such as antibiotic resistance or virulence factors, from their surroundings, including DNA from dead bacteria. It plays an important role in genetic diversity and the spread of resistance traits among bacterial populations.