The biolistic method, also known as the gene gun, injects genetic material into cells by coating microprojectiles such as gold or tungsten particles with DNA and propelling them using a compressed gas gun. The gene gun was invented in the 1980s and can transform both plant and animal cells, as well as organelles like chloroplasts that cannot be modified by other methods. It offers new opportunities for research in areas like gene therapy and vaccination.

1. A new way of injecting genetic information

2. There are three main methods of genetic
engineering. The plasmid method, the vector
method, and the biolistic method.
Plasmid Method Vector Method Biolistic Method

3. A gene gun, or a biolistic particle delivery system,
is a genetic engineering technique originally
designed to modify plants.

4. This device injects cells with genetic information
using a heavy metal element bullet coated with
plasmid DNA.

5. This device can be used on almost any cell, and it
is not limited to transforming genetic
information in the nucleus. It also can modify
other organelles.

6. Originally, the gene gun was a Crosman air pistol
that had been redesigned to fire dense tungsten
particles.
The heavy metal element, tungsten.

7. It was invented by three scientists from
Cornell, John C Stanford, Ed Wolf, and Nelson
Allen, and one scientist from DuPont, Ted
Klein, between the years 1983 and 1986.

8. http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=gluCG6hoLUo

9. The gene gun today is used not only on plants
cells, but also on bacteria, yeast, and
mammalian cell lines that had previously been
impossible to inject such as non-dividing cells
or primary cells.

10. Using the gene gun on other organelles, such as
chloroplast, has been useful because no
bacteria or viruses are known to infect the
chloroplast. Therefore, other ways of transfer
genetic information were void.

11. DNA delivery with the gene gun offers new
research opportunities for areas such as DNA
vaccination/genetic immunization, gene
therapy, tumor biology, and many others.

12. "Www.biosicherheit.de." Biolistic Gun; Particle Gun. Federal Ministry of
Education and Research, 2012. Web. 24 May 2012. <http://www.gmo-
safety.eu/glossary/776.biolistic-gun-particle.html>.
"Www.biosicherheit.de." GMO-Safety.eu. Federal Ministry of Education and
Research, 9 Feb. 2009. Web. 24 May 2012. <http://www.gmo-
safety.eu/basic-info/602.ready-aim-fire.html>.
"Gene Guns." Gene Guns. Davidson College. Web. 24 May 2012.
<http://www.bio.davidson.edu/courses/molbio/molstudents/spring20
03/mcdonald/gene_gun.html>.
"Plant Transformation Using Particle Bombardment." Plant Transformation
Using Particle Bombardment. ABNE, 2010. Web. 24 May 2012.
<http://www.nepadbiosafety.net/for-
regulators/resources/subjects/biotechnology/plant-transformation-
bombardment>.