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- Current: Oct 1, 2023
Transformation
In biology, transformation refers to a phenomenon that a living bacterium acquires DNA from the environment.
Transformation is a type of horizontal gene transfer. The external DNA is ofter derived from other bacteria.
Definitions in the literature
- a method of acquireing new genes, whereby DNA from one bacterium (normally released after the death of the bacterium) becomes incorporated into the DNA of another, living bacterium [1].
- Natural transformation is the process by which bacteria can actively take up and integrate exogenous DNA thereby providing a source of genetic diversity [2].
