competent cells

[/ˈkɒmpɪtənt sɛlz/]
nounpl: competent cells
células competentes
1. Bacterial cells that have been treated to increase their ability to take up external DNA, commonly used in molecular biology for genetic transformation and cloning experiments
The researcher prepared competent cells by treating them with calcium chloride to facilitate DNA uptake during transformation.
O pesquisador preparou células competentes tratando-as com cloreto de cálcio para facilitar a absorção de DNA durante a transformação.
2. Cells made permeable to foreign DNA through chemical or physical methods to enable genetic engineering procedures
Competent cells are essential for inserting plasmids into bacteria in molecular cloning experiments.
As células competentes são essenciais para inserir plasmídeos em bactérias em experimentos de clonagem molecular.
Competent cells are fundamental in molecular biology and genetic engineering research globally. The term is used identically in Brazilian Portuguese scientific communities and international research settings, reflecting the universal nature of molecular biology techniques. This vocabulary is primarily encountered in academic, research, and biotechnology professional contexts rather than in casual or colloquial speech.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
transformation-competent cellselectrocompetent cellschemically competent cells
Antonyms / Antônimos
non-competent cellsincompetent cells

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
células competentes
Standard scientific terminology used in Brazilian universities and research institutions
Portugal
células competentes
Same terminology used in Portuguese academic and research contexts
United States
competent cells
Standard term in molecular biology labs and educational settings

Related Words

transformationplasmidDNA uptakegenetic engineeringmolecular cloningcalcium chloride treatmentelectroporation

Related Idioms & Phrases

prepare competent cells
make cells competent
competent cell protocol
Look up more words on Fala2Me
The free English-Portuguese dictionary with real Brazilian accents, NYC slang, conjugator and more
Open Fala2Me →