Why would I deliver foreign nucleic acids into a cell?

The introduction of foreign genes into a cell is called gene transfer. This procedure results in the recipient cell expressing the donor gene(s) and producing the corresponding proteins, opening new worlds for both biological research and the development of new therapeutic agents and/or approaches. Gene transfer allows for the delineation of the specific effects of a given gene and its products in an isolated system. It allows researchers to observe the effects of gene editing. It allows for the targeted mass production of the gene product. And it can be used to modulate other genes, restore the function to an inactivated gene, or decrease the activity of an overexpressed one. The genomic changes made by gene transfers can be permanent and hereditary, allowing for the rapid production of large numbers of custom engineered cells for research or therapeutic purposes. For more information on this topic please visit our resource center, specifically our viral vectors section.