Molecular Genetics

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One way of physically introducing DNA into cells is with a particle gun.

• Very tiny DNA-coated metal particles are suspended in a drop on a macroprojectile.
• A discharge (from a gunpowder explosion or from breakage of a membrane enclosing a pressurized chamber) impels the macroprojectile.
• The macroprojectile is stopped by a stopping plate, but the microprojectiles continue into the tissue below.
• The DNA introduced with the particles is expressed.

Further Information:

• Microprojectile bombardment can be used to assay the ability of gene constructs to function (transient expression assay).
• With some targets, microprojectile bombardment can be used to generate permanently transformed cell lines or organisms.
• Microprojectile bombardment is the only technique so far successful in putting genes into plastids and mitochondria.
• A variant of the original biolistic machine, the gene gun, is used in genetic immunization by impelling genes for antigens into an animal's skin.
• Biolistics is but one way of putting DNA into living cells.