Product Overview

Plasmid or vector transformation is the process by which exogenous DNA is transferred into a host cell. Transformation usually refers to the uptake of DNA by bacterial, yeast, or plant cells, while transfection is generally used for mammalian cells.

Common transformation methods include chemical transformation, electroporation, and particle bombardment. In chemical transformation, cells are made competent by treatment with divalent cations such as calcium chloride, which increases the permeability of the bacterial cell wall. Heat shock temporarily creates pores in the cell membrane, allowing exogenous DNA to enter the cell.