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Competent cells for transformation

LGC, Biosearch Technologies offers the best performance, value, and convenience in competent cells for cloning and expression. Our chemically competent cells offer an unmatched value for routine cloning, and our electrocompetent cells provide the highest possible efficiency for difficult cloning and library construction.

See our Custom Competent Cell Services page to learn how you can receive the high-quality cells in the exact format you need, when you need them. Custom dispensing is available in tubes or 96-well plates, for your strain or ours.

ISO 13485 Certified with 10+ years of manufacturing excellence

Our competent cells must pass strict QC specifications for transformation efficiency and antibiotic resistance.

Every lot of cells is tested to ensure the cells meet our guaranteed transformation efficiencies. Cells are also tested for resistance to a panel of antibiotics by plating mock-transformed cells on antibiotic plates. Common antibiotic panel includes: kanamycin, carbenicillin (ampicillin), streptomycin, tetracycline, gentamycin and chloramphenicol.

Chemically competent cells vs. Electrocompetent cells

Chemically competent cells Electrocompetent cells
  • Easy to work with and ideal for routine cloning
  • Well-established protocols
  • No specialized equipment requirements (electroporators and cuvettes)
  • Inexpensive to use compared to electrocompetent cells
  • Transformation efficiency is typically 1–3 orders of magnitude lower than the equivalent electrocompetent cells
  • Ideal for producing large, high-diversity libraries
  • Higher transformation efficiencies compared to the equivalent chemically competent cells, increasing success in difficult cloning applications
  • Requires access to electroporation instrument