Researchers from Nexus Spine LLC and Brigham Young
University have Developed New, High-Tech Device for Transferring DNA into Cells
The ability to transfer a gene or DNA sequence from one
animal into the genome of another plays a critical role in a wide range of
medical research—including cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and diabetes.
But the traditional method of transferring genetic material
into a new cell, called "microinjection," has a serious downside. It
involves using a small glass pipette to pump a solution containing DNA into the
nucleus of an egg cell, but the extra fluid can cause the cell to swell and
destroy it—resulting in a 25 to 40 percent cell death rate.