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Us](https://www.jove.com/about/) [← Previous Page](https://blog.jove.com) [← Previous Page](https://blog.jove.com) ![](https://blog.jove.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Screen-Shot-2013-11-05-at-2_11_42-PM-2-1.png) ![...](https://blog.jove.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Screen-Shot-2013-11-05-at-2_11_42-PM-2-1.png) Researchers # Bacterial transformation through electroporation Phil Meagher, JoVE Writer | Nov 06, 2013 [![](https://cloudfront.jove.com/img/icons/linkedin-in-brands_white.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.jove.com/scientist-blog/30-days-of-science-education-bacterial-transformation-electroporation) [![](https://blog.jove.com/hubfs/Imported%20images/twitter-white.png)](http://www.twitter.com/share?url=https://blog.jove.com/scientist-blog/30-days-of-science-education-bacterial-transformation-electroporation) [![](https://cloudfront.jove.com/img/icons/facebook-square-brands_white.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://blog.jove.com/scientist-blog/30-days-of-science-education-bacterial-transformation-electroporation) Phil Meagher, JoVE Writer | Nov 06 2013 [![](https://cloudfront.jove.com/img/icons/linkedin-in-brands_white.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blog.jove.com/scientist-blog/30-days-of-science-education-bacterial-transformation-electroporation) [![](https://blog.jove.com/hubfs/Imported%20images/twitter-white.png)](http://www.twitter.com/share?url=https://blog.jove.com/scientist-blog/30-days-of-science-education-bacterial-transformation-electroporation) [![](https://cloudfront.jove.com/img/icons/facebook-square-brands_white.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://blog.jove.com/scientist-blog/30-days-of-science-education-bacterial-transformation-electroporation) ***Thank you for checking out our ***“30 days of Science Education” [series](http://www.jove.com/blog/2013/10/29/a-single-dna-gel-electrophoresis-photo-could-win-you-50).*** Use [Science Education](http://www.jove.com/science-education-database) videos to i******ntroduce undergraduates to the lab******. *** Yesterday we discussed bacterial transformation and the *[heat shock method](http://www.jove.com/blog/2013/11/05/30-days-of-science-education-bacterial-transformation-the-heat-shock-method). *Today we present a second technique for artificially transforming cells into competent cells. Introducing *electroporation.* [![Compared to electroporation, heat shock bacterial transformation takes longer to accomplish and leads to lower transformation efficiencies. Furthermore, the heat shock method it is limited to bacterial, yeast and plant protoplasts while electroporation can be applied to mammalian cells—as seen in this image...](https://blog.jove.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Screen-Shot-2013-11-05-at-2_11_38-PM-2-1.png?width=337&height=251&name=Screen-Shot-2013-11-05-at-2_11_38-PM-2-1.png)](http://www.jove.com/science-education/5060/bacterial-transformation-electroporation) The heat shock method it is limited to bacterial, yeast and plant protoplasts while electroporation can be applied to mammalian cells—as seen in this image... In this *[Science Education](http://www.jove.com/science-education-database) *video, we introduce the plasmid as the most commonly transformed type of DNA, discuss the biophysical mechanism thought to underlie electroporation, show a generalized procedure for conducting electroporation, and describe how electroporation can be used in a mammalian system. [![...and in this image of a jellyfish expressing a fluorescent protein.](https://blog.jove.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Screen-Shot-2013-11-05-at-2_05_49-PM-2-1.png?width=350&height=262&name=Screen-Shot-2013-11-05-at-2_05_49-PM-2-1.png)](http://www.jove.com/science-education/5060/bacterial-transformation-electroporation) ...and in this image of a jellyfish expressing a fluorescent protein. Like what you see?  Join the *Science Education* video revolution; we are offering the entire video-collection for free through the end of 2013!   --- ### Related Posts - [JoVE](https://www.jove.com/) - [Privacy](https://www.jove.com/about/policies)  •   [Terms of Use](https://www.jove.com/about/policies#step-2)  •   [Policies](https://www.jove.com/about/policies) - - [Share on Twitter](http://twitter.com/JoVEjournal) - [Share on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/JoVEjournal) - [Share on LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/company/jove) - [Contact Us](https://www.jove.com/about/contact) - [Recommend US](https://www.jove.com/recommend-jove-to-your-librarian) - [JoVE NEWSLETTERS](https://www.jove.com/subscribe-to-jove-newsletters) - ###### RESEARCH - [JoVE Journal](https://www.jove.com/journal) - [Methods Collections](https://www.jove.com/methods-collections) - [JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments](https://www.jove.com/encyclopedia-of-experiments) - [Archive](https://www.jove.com/archive) ###### EDUCATION - 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