Gemini Series Electroporator User’s Manual
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Glossary of Terms
Capacitance – The ability of a body to store an electrical charge.
Any object that can be electrically charged exhibits capacitance.
Capacitor – A device that stores energy in the form of an electric
field. A capacitor consists of two metal plates insulated from each
other by a dielectric (insulating, usually a plastic material such as
Mylar) material. In an ideal capacitor, no conduction current flows
between the plates after the capacitor is completely charged.
Capacitors can be fixed, variable, or adjustable.
Cell Form – The format in which cells present for experimentation.
Cell forms include suspension, in vivo, in ovo, ex plant, adherent,
whole organism, etc.
Dielectric Breakdown – The reversible breakdown of bi-
lipid layer membranes as a result of the application of a DC
electroporation pulse. A sufficiently high field strength may
increase the membrane potential past a critical point leading to
the breakdown of the membrane.
Dielectric Constant – For a given dielectric (nonmetallic)
material, the ratio of electrical capacitance of a dielectric-filled
capacitor to a vacuum capacitor of identical dimensions.
Divergence – The deviation of field lines (e.g. electric field lines)
from parallel, homogeneous conditions. A highly divergent field is
a very inhomogeneous field where the value and direction of the
field change drastically in the area under consideration.
Electrolytic – A fluid containing charged molecules is called an
electrolyte. Electrolytic properties are associated with such a fluid,
such as the ability to conduct current.
Electroporation – The application of high electric field pulses of
short duration to create temporary pores (holes) in the membranes
of cells.
Electroporation Cuvette – Square chambers with electrodes on
two sides, usually measuring 1 mm, 2 mm or 4 mm in gap, for
the purpose of electroporating cells in suspension. The cell type
being electroporated typically determine the gap. Prokaryotic cells
typically uses 1 mm or 2 mm gap cuvettes, while eukaryotic cells
will typically use 2 mm or 4 mm gap sizes.
Exponential Decay Waveform – This waveform is mainly used
for transforming cells during electroporation. In this type of pulse
the set voltage is released from the capacitor and decays rapidly
and exponentially over time (millisecs). The delivered pulse, is
characterized by two parameters: the field strength (kV/cm) and
the time constant. These parameters can be adjusted by varying
voltage and capacitance settings to achieve a wide pulse gradient.
Field Strength – The potential difference between two points
(electrodes) (in Volts) divided by the distance between the
electrodes (called gap, and expressed in cm). Expressed as V/cm or
kV/cm. This is true only if the electric field is homogeneous as it is
in parallel plate electrodes.
Gap – The distance between electrodes.
Homogeneous Electric Field – The direction and field strength
are constant.
Hydrostatic Pressure – The pressure in liquids at rest.
Inhomogeneous Electric Field – Direction and strength of the
electric field vary.
Number of Pulses – The number of pulses the sample will be
exposed to.
Osmotic Pressure – The applied pressure required to prevent
the flow of solvents of different concentration across a semi-
permeable membrane.
Pore – A small, mostly transient opening in a cell wall caused by
the application of a brief high electric field pulse.
Potential Difference – The difference (in Volts) between points
in an area between electrodes.
Protocols – The method for performing an experiment.
Pressure Gradient – The difference in pressure between two
points in a medium.
Pulse Interval – The time between multiple pulses.
Pulse Length/Pulse Duration – The length of time an electric
signal is applied.
Specialty Electrodes – Electrodes used with the BTX Gemini
X2 to perform electroporation on a wide variety of cell forms.
Some applications include in vivo, in ovo, in utero, or ex plant
electroporation. BTX offer many types of specialty electrodes.
Square Waveform – This waveform is typically used for
eukaryotic cells. It is characterized by the voltage delivered, the
duration of the pulse, the number of pulses and the length of the
interval between pulses.
Time Constant – (represented by the Greek letter tau, T) is the
amount of time required for the actual voltage of the delivered
pulse to decrease to a value 1/e of the true peak pulse.
Transfection – The introduction of nucleic acids into animal cells.
Stable transfections result in integration of nucleic acids into host
chromosomes and the inheritance of associated traits in progeny
cells. Transient transfections result in temporary expression of
exogenous nucleic acids.
Transformation – The introduction of nucleic acids into
microorganisms and plant cells.
Turgor Pressure – The pressure in capillaries.
Voltage – The difference of electric potential between two
electrodes (expressed in volts (V) or kilovolts (kV)).
Waveforms – The shape of time-varying electric signals.
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