Relationship between competence for transformation of Bacillus subtilis with native and single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid.

The response of populations of Bacillus subtilis to both native deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and denatured DNA was investigated at maximal competence and at various times during the development of compentency. The results indicate that competence for transformation with native and denatured DNA increases and decreases simultaneously. Competition occurs between native and single-stranded DNA during transformation, and the same cells in a population can be doubly transformed by DNA molecules of both configurations.