COMPETENT CELLS

competent cells: translation

(1) Bacterial cells with enhanced ability to take up exogenous DNA and thus to be transformed. Competence can arise naturally in some bacteria ( Pneumococcus, Bacillus and Haemophilus spp) ; a similar state can be induced in E. coli by treatment with calcium chloride. Once competence has been induced the cells can be stored at low temperature in cryoprotectant and used when needed.

(2) Cells capable of responding to an inducer in embryonic development.