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Transfection
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<p> Transfection is the process of deliberately introducing naked or purified <a href="/facts/Nucleic_acids/2tTgcI0v">nucleic acids</a> into <a href="/facts/Eukaryote/SkwyPLMA">eukaryotic</a> <a href="/facts/Cell_(biology)/bLM9UQvy">cells</a>. It may also refer to other methods and cell types, although other terms are often preferred: "<a href="/facts/Transformation_(genetics)/n82cCRCu">transformation</a>" is typically used to describe non-viral <a href="/facts/DNA/nB89Iauz">DNA</a> transfer in <a href="/facts/Bacteria/wC8xSCsU">bacteria</a> and non-animal <a href="/facts/Eukaryote/SkwyPLMA">eukaryotic</a> cells, including plant cells. In animal cells, transfection is the preferred term, as the term "transformation" is also used to refer to a cell's progression to a cancerous state (<a href="/facts/Carcinogenesis/PC8wc1Mf">carcinogenesis</a>). <a href="/facts/Transduction_(genetics)/nk0833JV">Transduction</a> is often used to describe virus-mediated gene transfer into prokaryotic cells. </p><p>The word <i>transfection</i> is a <a href="/facts/Portmanteau/d124JEbz">portmanteau</a> of the prefix <i>trans-</i> and the word "infection." <a href="/facts/Genetics/bu8wne0A">Genetic</a> material (such as <a href="/facts/DNA_supercoil/vFTgbyNT">supercoiled plasmid DNA</a> or <a href="/facts/SiRNA/891ytkD9">siRNA</a> constructs), may be transfected. Transfection of <a href="/facts/Animal_cell/SkwyPLMA">animal cells</a> typically involves opening transient pores or "holes" in the <a href="/facts/Plasma_membrane/vAXSD0DT">cell membrane</a> to allow the uptake of material. Transfection can be carried out using <a href="/facts/Calcium_phosphate/tn03xvdb">calcium phosphate</a> (i.e. <a href="/facts/Tricalcium_phosphate/JDPPa2rk">tricalcium phosphate</a>), by <a href="/facts/Electroporation/Dx7tt65o">electroporation</a>, by cell squeezing, or by mixing a <a href="/facts/Cationic/wrbwhF3z">cationic</a> <a href="/facts/Lipid/TdQR87HX">lipid</a> with the material to produce <a href="/facts/Liposomes/l9P4LVbS">liposomes</a> that fuse with the cell membrane and deposit their cargo inside. </p><p>Transfection can result in unexpected morphologies and abnormalities in target cells. </p>