Bacterial transformation is defined as a mechanism of genetic exchange whereby a population of bacteria can obtain genetic informa-tion as a result of cellular uptake and integration of extracellular deoxyribonucleic acid released from other bacteria by natural or in-duced lysis. In order for a transformable strain of bacteria to take up DNA and to undergo transformation, the cells must be in a physiolog-ical state called competence. A cell is referred to as competent if it has the ability to bind extracellular DNA irreversibly and subsequently to integrate and express the DNA.