Question

Why is e. coli such a convenient host cell for transformation in biotechnology?

Answer 1

The genome of the E. coli bacteria is very crisp and simple with only 4400 genes, easy to study and understand. The ability of the bacteria to multiply drastically producing a generation in 1200 seconds under suitable growth condition dragged the attention of the researchers. Coming to the safety in handling the organisms, except for the particular harmful strain (O157:H7), the normal organism from the flora of the gut is safe to handle under suitable microbiological environment. The first completely sequenced genome is an additional feather in the cap of E. coli making the bacteria easier to use in recombinant DNA technology which involves nothing but the ultimate expression of proteins. Also the competence of the E. coli bacteria as a host for foreign DNAs and simple laboratory procedure to cultivate and adaptability to both aerobic and anaerobic environment made the E. coli bacteria a pioneer in the field of biotechnology.