BRAINCAKEMicroinjection
Microinjection puts DNA directly into a cell using a very fine glass micropipette, under a microscope. It is the classic method for producing transgenic animals.
Method for a transgenic animal
1. Eggs are collected from a female and fertilised in vitro.
2. A fertilised egg is held still by gentle suction from a blunt holding pipette.
3. The micropipette, with a tip less than 1 µm wide, is pushed into the egg and a tiny volume of DNA solution is injected, usually into the male pronucleus (the nucleus from the sperm, before it fuses with the egg nucleus), because it is larger and easier to target.
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Key terms in this lesson
- transgenic
- Containing a gene transferred from a different species.
More in Gene Technology
- Identifying Transformed Organisms
- Vectors
- Gene Guns
- Liposome Wrapping
- Gene Silencing
- Transgenic Plants
- Cloning Plants
- Genetic Modification of Crops
All 17 lessons in Gene Technology · All Edexcel A-level Biology topics