Final answer:
The ability of an organism to take up DNA is known as transformation, a form of horizontal gene transfer where a cell takes up external DNA from its environment and incorporates it into its own genetic material.
Step-by-step explanation:
Natural Genetic Engineering Process Transformation is the process by which an organism takes up foreign genetic material, such as DNA, from its surroundings and incorporates it into its own genome. This phenomenon was first discovered in bacteria by Frederick Griffith in 1928 and has since been extensively studied in various organisms. Transformation plays a crucial role in genetic engineering, molecular biology, and the development of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
Mechanism of Transformation In bacteria, transformation involves the uptake of exogenous DNA from the environment, followed by its integration into the bacterial chromosome or the maintenance as an extrachromosomal element (plasmid). The process typically requires specific DNA sequences and proteins that facilitate the uptake and incorporation of the foreign DNA. In other organisms, such as plants and animals, transformation mechanisms may differ but still involve the integration of exogenous DNA into the host genome.