gene transfer

American  

noun

1. Biotechnology. the insertion of copies of a gene into living cells in order to induce synthesis of the gene's product: the desired gene may be microinjected directly into the cell or it may be inserted into the core of a virus by gene splicing and the virus allowed to infect the cell for replication of the gene in the cell's DNA.

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Example Sentences

This process, called horizontal gene transfer, allows bacteria to quickly share useful traits, including genes that help them survive antibiotic treatments.

From Science Daily • Apr. 17, 2026

Horizontal gene transfer occurs when a gene moves from one species to another.

From Science Daily • Oct. 28, 2025

As it's common for hosts like humans or other animals to harbor more than one infection at once, there can be plenty of opportunities for gene transfer to occur.

From Salon • Apr. 24, 2025

What this means is that evolution in E. coli, despite the serendipity of horizontal gene transfer, isn’t just a matter of chance.

From Salon • Oct. 14, 2024

"Through horizontal gene transfer, lucinid symbionts likely obtained the nitrogen fixation genes from another symbiont lineage," notes Morel-Letelier.

From Science Daily • Jun. 4, 2024