Question

Treating bacteria, like

e. coli, with a cold solution of calcium chloride can make the cells more receptive to take up dna from a solution. bacterial cells prepared by this process are referred to as:

Answer 1

This process is known as transformation. In this process, the cells are exposed to calcium ions so that they may become competent to take up the DNA. Calcium chloride creates pores in the cell which enables the cell to take up DNA. Apart from calcium chloride, small electric current is also used for the same.