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transfection

(Science: molecular biology) The introduction of dNA into a recipient eukaryote cell and its subsequent integration into the recipient cells chromosomal DNA.

Usually accomplished using dNA precipitated with calcium ions though a variety of other methods can be used (e.g. Electroporation). Only about 1% of cultured cells are normally transfected.

Transfection is analogous to bacterial transformation but in eukaryotes transformation is used to describe the changes in cultured cells caused by tumour viruses.