Transformation Frequency - (Sep/25/2006 )

Hey all,

I was just wondering what the differenece in the frequency of chemical transformation and electroporation? Electroporation frequencies are higher, but why is this?

Thanks heaps

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For the very best company prepared competent cells, electroporation has a frequency of 10^10 while chemical transformation is 10^9. I am not sure what are the numbers for in house prepared cells. However casual observation seems to indicated electroporation is at least 2 orders of a magnitude better. (But I am sure experience and care becomes a big factor here.)

As to why, well it must surely down to the mechanism which the DNA is taken up. Phagocytosis of calcium coated DNA, verses transient holes in the membrane.

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