Competent Cell DNA Uptake

How briefly and transiently destabilizing a normally impermeable cell membrane opens a temporary window for outside DNA to cross into the cell.

References

• Cohen, S.N., Chang, A.C., Boyer, H.W., Helling, R.B. "Construction of Biologically Functional Bacterial Plasmids in Vitro." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 70, no. 11 (1973): 3240–3244.