Discussion
Which technique is used to transfer DNA into a cell using a brief high-voltage electrical pulse?
Answer: C
Correct answer: Electroporation
Electroporation applies a brief high-voltage pulse that transiently opens pores in the cell membrane, allowing DNA to enter. The membrane reseals within moments, and the cell recovers. It is one of the standard artificial transformation methods, and it achieves considerably higher efficiency than chemical treatment. It also works on a wide range of cell types - bacteria, yeast, plant protoplasts and mammalian cells - where the chemical methods are more restricted. The alternative for bacteria is the calcium chloride method: incubating cells in cold calcium chloride and then applying a brief heat shock at 42°C, which is simpler and needs no equipment but gives lower yields. Other delivery methods have their own niches: the gene gun or biolistic method fires DNA-coated particles into plant cells; microinjection introduces DNA directly with a needle; Agrobacterium transfers DNA naturally into plants; and viral vectors are used for gene therapy. Conjugation and transduction are natural processes rather than techniques.
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