Question

How do scientists use microinjection and gene gun in biotechnology ?

Hint:

Microinjection puts DNA into an animal cell nucleus with a fine needle. A gene gun shoots DNA-coated gold or tungsten particles into plant cells.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
To make a recombinant organism, the foreign DNA must be put inside the host cell. Some hosts have tough cell walls or no easy way to take up DNA.
Microinjection and the gene gun are two physical methods used for this.

Step 2: Microinjection:
In microinjection, the recombinant DNA is injected directly into the nucleus of an animal cell with a very fine glass needle.
It is used, for example, on a fertilised egg to make a transgenic animal.

Step 3: Gene gun (biolistics):
In the gene gun method, tiny particles of gold or tungsten are coated with the foreign DNA.
These are shot at high speed into plant cells. The DNA enters the cell and may join the genome.
This is useful for plant cells, including monocots, which Agrobacterium does not infect well.

Final Answer:
Microinjection injects DNA directly into an animal cell nucleus. The gene gun bombards plant cells with DNA-coated gold or tungsten particles.