Electroporation
Electroporation
Electroporation (/ɪˌlɛktroʊpɔːˈreɪʃən/) is a microbiology technique that uses an electrical field to increase the permeability of the cell membrane, allowing chemicals, drugs, or DNA to be introduced into the cell.
Etymology
The term "electroporation" is derived from the Greek words "electron" meaning amber, from which electricity was first produced, and "poros" meaning passage or gateway. It was first coined in the late 20th century to describe the process of using electricity to create pores in cell membranes.
Process
Electroporation involves the application of an electrical field to cells in order to increase the permeability of the cell membrane. This is achieved by applying a voltage pulse to a sample of cells, which causes the formation of transient pores in the cell membrane. These pores allow molecules to pass into the cell that would otherwise be excluded.
Applications
Electroporation has a wide range of applications in biotechnology, genetics, and medicine. It is commonly used in gene therapy, where it is used to introduce new genes into cells. It is also used in the production of genetically modified organisms, where it is used to introduce new traits into organisms.
Related Terms
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Electroporation
- Wikipedia's article - Electroporation
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