Which of the following best describes the process of transformation?

The process of transformation is best described as the uptake of new plasmid DNA by a cell. This biological mechanism involves a bacterium incorporating external DNA from its surroundings into its own genome. Transformation can occur naturally in some bacterial species or be induced artificially in laboratory settings, making it a crucial technique in genetic engineering.

When a cell undergoes transformation, it can acquire new traits, such as antibiotic resistance or the ability to metabolize new nutrients, which can have significant implications for research and biotechnology applications. For instance, researchers often use transformation to introduce specific genes into bacteria for the production of proteins or other biomolecules.

Other choices, while related to genetics and cellular processes, do not accurately capture the essence of transformation. Integration of RNA into DNA describes a different mechanism, typically involving reverse transcription, while the replication of genetic material during cell division is a fundamental process of mitosis or meiosis, not transformation. Ion exchange pertains to biochemical reactions involving the swapping of ions and is unrelated to the uptake of plasmid DNA.