Question

Electroporation in cloning is
A. Introduction of genetic material to a transgenic animal
B. Introduction of genetic material through viruses
C. Manipulation of cells by exposing them to a strong electric field
D. Injecting DNA into the egg

Answer 1

The artificial or natural introduction of identical or virtually identical DNA in individuals is termed as cloning. In biotechnology, cloning refers to the process of creating cell copies, or clones of organisms, or copy of DNA fragments which are also referred to as molecular cloning.

Complete answer:
Transfection is defined as the process of introduction of alien deoxyribose nucleic acid which is either naked or purified, into eukaryotic cells. Transfection can be employed either by electroporation, by cell squeezing, by using tri-calcium phosphate, or by mixing cationic lipids with the material which results in the production of liposomes. These liposomes fuse with the cell membrane and deposit their materials inside. One of the microbiological techniques employed in cloning techniques is electroporation. Electroporation is carried out by applying an electric field of thousands of volts passing through the suspended cells. This creates temporary pores in the cell membrane that increases its permeability allowing DNA, chemicals, or drugs to be introduced into the cell. This process is prominently used to introduce new DNA coding into yeast, bacteria, or plant protoplasts for their transformation. This process is also highly efficient in mammalian cells for the introduction of foreign genetic material in tissue culture cells. For instance, this process can be utilized to produce knockout mice, in the treatment of tumour cells, in cell-based therapy and gene therapy.
Therefore, the correct answer is option C, i.e., Manipulation of cells by exposing them to a strong electric field.

Note: Competent cells are bacterial cells, which through the process of transformation have the ability to take up foreign DNA from the surroundings. These competent cells are prepared by two methods namely natural competence and artificial competence. The electroporation technique is one of the methods by which competent cells are prepared artificially.