Biotechnology and Bioinformatics (1+1)

2.2.5.2. Electroporation

Electroporation is another method of gene transfer . It utilizes a series of short electrical pulses to make the membrane porous and permeable to DNA incorporation.

• Embryos and sperms can be electroporated.
• It is less labour intensive and does not require special expertise for gene transfer as needed in the case of microinjection .
• It is easier to do this in spermatozoa than in embryos, which possess tough chorion.
• The gene transfer efficiency and integration rate do not differ much between electroporation and microinjection methods.
• In zebra fish 0.1 milli second pulses of 125/cm for batches of 200 eggs.
• This technique has been tested on medaka, zebrafish, common carp, catfish and loach.
• When compared with different methods of gene transfer (microinjection, sperm-mediated, chromosome mediated and through electroporation), despite lower survival, electroporation technique ensures a higher transfer efficiency.