If a bacterial cell can take up extracellular DNA through transformation, what is the cell described as?

If a bacterial cell can take up extracellular DNA through transformation, what is the cell described as?

• A. Efficient
• B. Capable
• C. Competent
• D. Able

Answer: (C)

Competence is the ability of a bacterial cell to take up extracellular DNA from its surroundings and incorporate it into its genome, which is what happens during transformation. When a cell is in this state, it is described as competent. Some bacteria are naturally competent, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae and Bacillus subtilis, while others can be induced to become competent in the lab to introduce new DNA. Generic terms like “efficient,” “capable,” or “able” don’t specify this biological state, so they don’t convey the specific ability to uptake DNA through transformation.

Competence is the ability of a bacterial cell to take up extracellular DNA from its surroundings and incorporate it into its genome, which is what happens during transformation. When a cell is in this state, it is described as competent. Some bacteria are naturally competent, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae and Bacillus subtilis, while others can be induced to become competent in the lab to introduce new DNA. Generic terms like “efficient,” “capable,” or “able” don’t specify this biological state, so they don’t convey the specific ability to uptake DNA through transformation.