What process in bacteria involves the uptake of DNA from their surroundings?

The correct answer is transformation, a process by which bacteria take up free, naked DNA from their environment and incorporate it into their own genome. This DNA often comes from other bacteria that have died and lysed, releasing their genetic material into the surrounding area. Transformation can lead to genetic variation within a bacterial population, allowing for the acquisition of new traits, such as antibiotic resistance or metabolic capabilities.

In contrast, transduction involves the transfer of DNA from one bacterium to another via a bacteriophage (a type of virus that infects bacteria), rather than direct uptake from the environment. Conjugation is a process where DNA is transferred between bacteria through direct cell-to-cell contact, typically through a pilus. Translocation generally refers to the movement of substances across a cell membrane and does not pertain to the uptake of DNA in bacteria. Thus, transformation is specifically the correct process associated with the uptake of external DNA.