What factors affect bacterial transformation?

Several factors influence bacterial transformation efficiency, including: 1) Bacterial species and strain, as some are naturally more competent; 2) DNA concentration and purity; 3) Method of competence induction (e.g., chemical vs. electroporation); 4) Temperature and timing of heat shock or electrical pulse; 5) Growth phase of bacterial cells, as cells in the early log phase are typically more receptive to transformation; and 6) Recovery conditions after transformation.