PARTICLE-MEDIATED TRANSFORMATION OF ANIMAL SOMATIC CELLS

摘要

A method is disclosed for the convenient transformation of the somatic cells of animals. Somatic cell transformation is useful for medical and veterinary care of genetic diseases, and other therapeutic or animal improvement purposes. The method makes use of an electric discharge particle acceleration apparatus which can inject very small particles of gold or other dense material carrying genetic constructs coated on them into the living cells of animals. The animals not only live, but there is no visible bruising or bleeding at the site of the treatment. The method is particularly adaptable since the force of the particle injection in such a spark discharge apparatus is adjustable by adjustments to the voltage of the spark discharge.