Question: Can you use nanotech to dstribute DNA to othe animals

Robert Lees answered on 12 Nov 2015:

This is probably the most advanced question I’ve been asked, Daniel!

The answer is yes! There are a lot of ways that have been invented, some newer than others, to get DNA in to other animals cells. In scientific research a lot of people use animal cells in a dish and use calcium phosphate, or lipofectamine to get the DNA across the cell membrane. There are other techniques like electroporation (using electricity to make holes in the membrane) or using a gun that fires gold nanoparticles with DNA attached!

To put DNA in to another living animal we can use viruses that we engineer ourselves, or use those other techniques above when the animal is still in the pregnant mum! The DNA needs to be put in when they’re very small (for the best effect, in to the fertilised egg!), then all of the animals cells will have the DNA. This is because of cell division, cells ‘differentiate’ and become special by dividing and the DNA is passed on, eventually they stop dividing and the DNA is no longer spread around. So the sooner you put the DNA in to the developing animal – the more cells will have the DNA!