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

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

This "selfless" sharing, known as horizontal gene transfer, can rapidly spread useful traits including genes that confer resistance to antibiotic drugs used to treat infections.

From Science Daily • Apr. 17, 2026

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

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

They have also shown that the presence of antibiotics does not speed up the rate of horizontal gene transfer, so there must be something else happening that pushes the genes to spread.

From Science Daily • Feb. 22, 2024