Question

a) why must a cell be made competent in biotechnology experiments? How does calcium ion help in doing so? (b) state the role of bolistic gun in biotechnology experiments.

Answer 1

(a) In biotechnology experiments, the cells must be made competent so that they can take up the hydrophilic DNA molecule inside them from the external medium. Treatment of bacterial cells with divalent calcium cations makes them competent and helps them to take up the DNA through the pores in the cell wall. 

(b) Biolistic gene or gene gun is a method of introducing alien DNA into the plants cells. In this method, the host cells are bombarded with high velocity micro-particles of gold and tungsten coated with DNA molecules.