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to transform

to transform

13 7.3
Make a bacterium have new genes by adding DNA from another cell
  • verb
  • /trænsˈfɔrm/
  • Specialized
translation icon : transformar
  • The process allows scientists to transform bacterial cells by incorporating plasmid DNA from closely related species.
  • transform cells

Examples

  • Researchers aimed to transform a common bacterium into a powerful tool for bioremediation by altering its genetic makeup.

  • Scientists can transform one bacterial strain into another by introducing new DNA using a technique called gene editing.

  • We then take this, we transform it into a bacterium.

  • l've never seen anything transform an entire host cell so quickly.

  • The HSV genome itself has been found to have distinct transforming regions.

    Academic text (2006)
  • As for the survivors, the ones with natural immunity, we've developed other viruses that will transform their DNA.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Once the heart is formed, the myocytes transform from immature cells into mature cells that cannot proliferate.

    Blog text (15)
  • Once bitten, he too begins to transform into the hairy wolf-like creature.

    Blog text (21)
  • Snyder, who earned his doctorate from Dincher's alma mater in 1987, recently grew transformed sugar beet cells into plants.

    Academic text (1996)
  • In addition to bacteria and yeasts, genetically transformed filamentous fungi could become ethanol plant workhorses.

    Academic text (1996)

Synonyms

to transfect
vsto transform
  • Specialized
1 9.9

To put foreign genes into living cells for study

is limited to changing bacterial cells using DNA from same or related species

Antonyms

75 4.3

To become steady and stop changing

Surface Forms

transform infinitive
transformed past participle
transforming present participle
transforms third person singular

Morphology

transform = form (transparent) = trans + form

The biological sense (genetic transformation) is a specialized extension but still conceptually 'changing the form/state' of a cell, so the morphology is informative.

Etymology

Transform comes from trans- 'across' and form 'shape'. So in biology, to transform a cell is to change it into a different form by giving it new DNA, which makes the cell different.