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 biolistic guns in biotechnology experiments.

Answer 1

Hint: The technology that utilizes biological systems, living organisms, or parts of this to develop different products.

Complete answer:
In biotechnology experiments, the cells must be made competent to take up the hydrophilic DNA molecule inside them from the external medium. Treatment of bacterial cells by divalent calcium cations makes the cells to be competent and helps them to take up the DNA through the pores in the cell wall of the cell.
A device used to deliver exogenous DNA (transgenes), RNA, or protein to cells is called a gene gun or biolistic particle delivery system. The technique by the involvement with such micro- projectile delivery of DNA is often referred to as biolistics.
Additional information:
- For the introduction of alien DNA into the host cells, cells are bombarded with high- velocity micro-particles of gold or tungsten coated with DNA molecules. This process is known as biolistic or gene gun, which plays a vital role in biotechnology experiments.
- The gene gun method may be a method used for genetically modifying plants. The utilization of a gene gun method delivers extra DNA directly into a plant's nucleus. This method is additionally commonly called particle acceleration or microprojectile bombardment.
- The gold or tungsten are inert so that they don't alter the chemical composition of cells. The gold particles are stopped by the screen shooting the genes directly into the cell sort of a projectile.

Note:
- Divalent calcium cations make the cell competent and help them to take up the DNA through the pores in the cell wall.
- The gene gun is employed to bombard the plant cell membrane with many DNA coated metal particles by using compressed helium because of the propellant.