Submitted by FreshT3ch t3_10n6wg5 in explainlikeimfive
unimportantthing t1_j689jzj wrote
Reply to comment by mmmmmmBacon12345 in ELI5: why can't we use electricity to kill microorganisms in small amount of water ? by FreshT3ch
Electricity is so bad at killing microorganisms in small amounts that in lab sciences we actually use it to introduce new DNA into them through a process called Electroporation. Basically, you send electricity into a solution that contains your microorganism and the new DNA you want it to have, and you zap the solution to cause pores to form in its cell membrane. These holes are big enough to allow the DNA to enter. It’s a very useful technique.
PigicornNamedHarold t1_j69t4dw wrote
This is incomplete - electroporation relies on large voltages but little to no current to be effective. If there are enough ions (i.e. salt) in your bacterial culture to carry a current, it will kill the bacteria (based on my experience with E. coli).
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