Question

where is the bacteria usually found? Why do we use it in transformation experiments?

Answer 1

Bacteria have simple cells. There is no nucleus or membranous organelles in bacteria. They have single stranded DNA, which can be considered as their control centre. They are numerous and contribute to a great percentage of prokaryotic organisms found on earth. Some bacteria contain plasmid. The plasmid often contain a gene that helps the bacteria to be resistant to certain antibiotics. Bacteria are found every where. They are found in soil, water, hot springs, rocks, snow, in plants and animals. They were among the first to be found on earth. They are found in human body. They are known as good bacteria. These are found in the lining of the intestinal tract too. The bacterial cells found in human body is approximately 10 times more than the human cells in the human body.

When exogenous DNA is introduced into a bacterial cell, this process is called transformation. The transformed bacterial cell is called competent cell. Transformation of bacteria with plasmids is important not only for studies in bacteria but also because bacteria are used as the means for both storing and replicating plasmids. Because of this, nearly all plasmids (even those designed for mammalian cell expression) carry both a bacterial origin of replication and an antibiotic resistance gene for use as a selectable marker in bacteria.