why is making cells competent essential for biotechnology experiments?
List any two ways by which this can be achieved.

Explanation

DNA being a hydrophilic molecule, can not pass, through the cell membrances. So the bacteria should be made competent to accept the DNA molecules. Competency is the ability of a cell to take up foreign DNA.
Two ways to make cells competent:
(i) Treatment with divalent cations like calcuim.
(ii) Use of gene gun.