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

However, in this case, the system appears to have been repurposed to help release GTA particles and promote gene transfer.

From Science Daily • Apr. 17, 2026

Now, in bacteria — which are a type of prokaryote, or single-celled organism — a lot of evolution happens by horizontal gene transfer.

From Salon • Oct. 14, 2024

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