DNAisthegeneticmaterialofvariousorganisms.ExtracellularDNAadsorbedorboundonsurface-activeparticlesinsoilshasbeenshowntopersistforlongperiodsagainstnucleasesdegradationandstillretaintheabilitytotransformcompetentcells.ThispaperreviewssomerecentadvancesonthebindingandtransformationofextracellularDNAinsoils,whichisfundamentaltounderstandingthenatureofthesoil,regulatingbiopersity,andassessingtheriskofreleasinggeneticallyengineeredmicroorganisms(GEMs)aswellasbeinghelpfulfordevelopmentofthegeneticevolutionaltheoryofbacteria.Severalinfluencingfactors,suchassoilpH,ionicstrength,soilsurfaceproperties,andcharacteristicsoftheDNApolymer,arediscussed.Todate,theunderstandingofthetypeofmolecularbindingsitesandtheconformationofadsorbedandboundDNAtosoilparticlesisstillinitsinfancy.
