Microbial genetics may be a discipline within microbiology and gene-splicing . Microbial genetics studies microorganisms for various purposes. The microorganisms that are observed are bacteria, and archaea. Some fungi and protozoa also are subjects wont to study during this field. Bacterial transformation may be a process of horizontal gene transfer by which some bacteria take up foreign genetic material (naked DNA) from the environment. The prerequisite for bacteria to undergo transformation is its ability to require up free, extracellular genetic material. Such bacteria are termed as competent cells.