transfection

Transfection describes the introduction of foreign material into eukaryotic cells. Transfection typically involves opening transient pores or 'holes' in the cell plasma membrane, to allow the uptake of material. Genetic material (such as supercoiled plasmid DNA or siRNA constructs), or even proteins such as antibodies, may be transfected. Transfection is frequently carried out by mixing a cationic lipid with the material to produce liposomes, which fuse with the cell plasma membrane and deposit their cargo inside.
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Addition of foreign DNA into a eukaryotic cell by exposing them to naked DNA (i.e., not in a bacteriophage as in transduction). In bacterial genetics, it is also called transformation.

permanently changing a cell using viral DNA.