Methyltransferase deficient chemically competent E. coli cells suitable for growth of plasmids free of Dam and Dcm methylation. Note that dam- strains are not recommended as a host for primary cloning/ligation. The dam mutation can result in an increased mutation rate in the cell and a reduction in the transformation efficiency. DNA should be maintained in a dam+ strain unless there is a specific need for DNA free of Dam or Dcm methylation.