How does bacterial transformation occur?

Bacterial transformation occurs when a bacterium takes up foreign DNA from its surroundings and incorporates it into its own genetic material. In natural transformation, competent bacteria bind extracellular DNA through surface receptors and internalize it through specialized transport systems. Artificial transformation, commonly used in laboratories, involves treating bacterial cells with calcium chloride or electroporation to permeabilize the cell membrane, allowing the DNA to enter. The DNA is then expressed or integrated into the host genome.