You are a volunteer for Nurses Without Borders and are being sent on a humanitarian mission. You are somewhat concerned because you have learned from the CDC website that antibiotic-resistant Haemophilus influenzae is common in the country to which you are being sent. This encapsulated, Gram-negative bacterium can cause a variety of illnesses, including community-acquired pneumonia. You do some research on the genetics of this pathogen.
-Which of the following statements is CORRECT regarding transformation?
A) DNA is transferred from one bacterial cell to another by means of a bacteriophage.
B) Transformation is the uptake of "naked" DNA from the environment.
C) Transformation involves the formation of a sex pilus through which plasmid DNA is shared between bacteria.
D) Transformation depends on a donor cell containing an F plasmid and a recipient cell that does not.
E) Transformation is a process that depends on physical contact between two bacterial cells.

Question

You are a volunteer for Nurses Without Borders and are being sent on a humanitarian mission. You are somewhat concerned because you have learned from the CDC website that antibiotic-resistant Haemophilus influenzae is common in the country to which you are being sent. This encapsulated, Gram-negative bacterium can cause a variety of illnesses, including community-acquired pneumonia. You do some research on the genetics of this pathogen. 
-Which of the following statements is CORRECT regarding transformation?
A) DNA is transferred from one bacterial cell to another by means of a bacteriophage.
B) Transformation is the uptake of "naked" DNA from the environment.
C) Transformation involves the formation of a sex pilus through which plasmid DNA is shared between bacteria.
D) Transformation depends on a donor cell containing an F plasmid and a recipient cell that does not.
E) Transformation is a process that depends on physical contact between two bacterial cells.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Transformation is a process in which bacteria take up DNA from the environment, often from dead or lysed bacteria. This DNA can then potentially be incorporated into their own genome. The other options given (A, C, D, E) describe other processes of genetic exchange in bacteria, but not transformation.

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