In Griffith's experiments with Streptococcus pneumoniae, rough nonencapsulated Streptococci were converted into smooth encapsulated Streptococci in the presence of the heat-killed smooth encapsulated Streptococci.What is the term that describes this process?
A)transduction
B)conjugation
C)transformation
D)cloning

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The process described in the question, where rough nonencapsulated Streptococci are converted into smooth encapsulated Streptococci in the presence of heat-killed smooth encapsulated Streptococci, is an example of transformation. Transformation is the process by which bacteria take up foreign genetic material from the environment and incorporate it into their genomes. In this case, the heat-killed smooth encapsulated Streptococci released their DNA into the environment, which was then taken up by the rough nonencapsulated Streptococci, allowing them to become smooth and encapsulated. Transduction and conjugation are mechanisms of horizontal gene transfer, but neither involve the uptake of free DNA from the environment. Cloning is not relevant to this process.

In Griffith's Experiments with Streptococcus Pneumoniae, Rough Nonencapsulated Streptococci Were