This process is facilitated by a peptide regulated via the comCDE and comAB operons during quorum sensing. Flowers are suspended in 5% sucrose in a “dip” technique that promotes this process. Cells typically used for this process are pre-washed with divalent cations such as calcium chloride, and are then heat-shocked or electroporated before outgrowth. In Arabidopsis, this process is (*) induced using Agrobacterium. Inoculation with a mixture of [read slowly] heat-killed, encapsulated cells and living, non-encapsulated cells demonstrated this process in a landmark study of Streptococcus by Frederick Griffith. The ability of bacteria to undergo this process is called competence. For 10 points, name this process by which a bacterium directly takes up foreign DNA, often contrasted with conjugation and transduction. ■END■
ANSWER: transformation [prompt on horizontal gene transfer or HGT; prompt on introducing plasmids or DNA by asking “as part of what process?”; prompt on inducing competence or preparing competent bacteria/cells until “competence” is read by asking “for what purpose?”; reject “transfection” or “transduction”]
<AY, Biology>
= Average correct buzz position