Final answer:
Natural transformation is a process in which bacteria take up and incorporate DNA from their environment, leading to the acquisition of new genetic traits. It is important in nature for the bacteria to acquire genetic elements encoding virulence factors and antibiotic resistance. It is also used in the laboratory for genetic engineering purposes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Natural transformation is a process in which bacteria take up and incorporate DNA from their environment, leading to the acquisition of new genetic traits. This mechanism is important in nature for the bacteria to acquire genetic elements encoding virulence factors and antibiotic resistance. It is also utilized in the laboratory for genetic engineering purposes, such as producing medicinal products. Bacterial transformation occurs when bacteria actively bind to environmental DNA, transport it into their cytoplasm, and make it single-stranded, allowing it to recombine with their own genome.