Gennembrydning

Gennembrydning is a term used in genetics and biotechnology to describe the introduction of foreign DNA into a cell or organism with the aim of altering its genotype and phenotype. The process can lead to stable, heritable changes when DNA integrates into the genome, or to transient expression when DNA remains episomal. Gennembrydning is a central concept in genetic engineering and supports both basic research and practical applications.

Several methods are commonly used to achieve gennembrydning. Biolistics, or gene gun delivery, uses DNA-coated microscopic particles shot into plant tissue to promote DNA uptake. Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation exploits a natural bacterial transfer system to insert DNA into plant cells. Electroporation applies electrical pulses to increase cell membrane permeability, enabling DNA to enter bacteria, yeast, or mammalian cells. Microinjection delivers DNA directly into individual cells, and chemical transfection methods (such as lipofection) use lipid-based carriers to ferry DNA across membranes.

Applications of gennembrydning include the development of transgenic crops with traits such as pest resistance, herbicide tolerance, or improved nutritional content; the production of pharmaceutical proteins in plant or microbial systems; and fundamental research to study gene function and regulatory networks.

Historically, gennembrydning emerged in the late 20th century alongside other genetic engineering techniques. It has advanced with improvements in delivery efficiency, tissue culture, and genome analysis, while remaining subject to biosafety, regulatory, and ethical considerations.