Which process allows bacteria to obtain DNA from their surroundings?

The process that allows bacteria to obtain DNA from their surroundings is transformation. In transformation, a bacterium takes up free-floating DNA fragments that are present in its environment, which can come from dead or lysed bacterial cells. Once inside, this foreign DNA can be incorporated into the bacterial genome through recombination or can exist as plasmids, potentially giving the bacterium new traits, such as antibiotic resistance or new metabolic capabilities.

This process is particularly important in microbial genetics and biotechnology, as it explains how certain traits can be acquired quickly among bacterial populations, leading to rapid adaptation to changing environments. Transformation is distinct from other mechanisms like conjugation, which involves transfer of DNA through direct cell-to-cell contact, and transduction, where DNA is transferred between bacteria via bacteriophages. Binary fission is a method of bacterial reproduction and does not involve the acquisition of new genetic material from the environment.