TRANSFORMATION

• PROCESS OF TRANSFORMATION?

  1. Plasmids and bacterial cells mixed in a medium containing calcium ions
  2. Change temperature
  3. Bacterial membrane becomes more permeable
  4. Plasmids pass into cytoplasm
• WHY IS TRANSFORMATION NOT ALWAYS EFFECTIVE?

  • only few bacterial cells accept plasmid
  • some plasmids close again
  • DNA fragment ends join together
• CONDITIONS OF TRANSFORMATION?

  • ice cold CaCl2 (provides Ca(2+))
  • heat shock (rapid heating and cooling)