INTRODUCING THE PLASMID INTO THE HOST CELL
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There are several ways to accomplish this task. Plasmid can be entered into a host cell by chemical transformation, electrophoration, or a gene gun.
A gene gun, being exactly what is sounds like, is literally a gun with a projectile bullet full of the genetically engineered plasmids. Scientist have made a gun the size of cells that could be shot directly at a cell. They use a microscopic bullet covered with plasmid and aim for a cell. Then by shooting the gun, the plasmid cell bullet pierces the membrane of the cell and delivers its plasmid. Some draw-backs to this method is that to produce such a gun requires extremely high technology and can be very expensive for just one cell.
Electrophoration is a less expensive way to introduce plasmid into the cells. Cells are poured in with a solution with plasmids. Then by giving an extremely high volt shock the cell membranes temperaroly create holes in themselves. Through these temporary holes plamids can flow into the cell and therefore enter the cell.
Another simpler way to introduce these plasmids are to freeze the cells and mix them with calcium chloride. Freezing and mixing the cells with calcium chloride makes the membrane much more permeable and more accepting to absorb the plasmid DNA. After the cell membrane becomes to permeable, the plasmid simply gets absorbed into the cell through the membrane.
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