Pneumococci have proved useful in elucidating microbial genetics. The phenomenon of transformation—an alteration of one cell by another—was first observed in these organisms in 1928. Colonies formed by pneumococci usually are small, round, and smooth. Occasional mutant rough colonies are produced by organisms that cannot synthesize the capsular material. When a rough colony is grown in the presence of genetic material (deoxyribonucleic acid) from a smooth colony, the rough colony is transformed into a smooth one.

Pneumococci are separated into types depending on the specific capsular polysaccharide formed. The disease-causing ability of pneumococci resides in the capsule, which delays or prevents their destruction by phagocytes, cells in the bloodstream that normally engulf foreign material.