What is bacterial transformation?

Bacterial transformation refers to the process through which bacteria take up foreign genetic material, such as plasmid DNA, from their environment. This process enables bacteria to acquire new traits, such as antibiotic resistance or the ability to produce certain proteins. Transformation can occur naturally in some bacteria that are “competent” or can be induced artificially in the laboratory using specific techniques. This phenomenon plays a crucial role in genetic engineering, molecular biology, and biotechnology.