Molecular Genetics

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One way of physically introducing DNA into a cell is microinjection.

• Under a microscope, a cell is manipulated to a blunt capillary. Gentle suction holds the cell in place.
• With a micromanipulator, a very fine tipped pipet is inserted into the cytoplasm or nucleus.
• DNA or RNA is injected directly into the nucleus or cytoplasm.
• Microinjection has been successfully used with large frog eggs, cultured mammalian cells, mammalian embryos, and plant protoplasts and tissues.

Further Information:

• Microinjection of frog eggs with RNA has been used to study the transient processing and translation of the RNA.
• Microinjection of fertilized mammalian eggs with genes is a major route for the production of transgenic animals.
• The ethics of the production of transgenic organisms is a subject of vigorous public debate.
• Microinjection is but one way of putting DNA into living cells.