Science · 1982 · 1.6K citations · 15 references
Life SciencesGeneticsMolecular GeneticsCytogeneticsInsect GeneticsRecombinant Dna TechnologyGene CloningHorizontal Gene TransferMobile Genetic ElementsMolecular CloningTransposable ElementsChromosome TransferEmbryonic Gene TransferHorizontal Transfer Of TransposonsMobile Element InsertionsOrigin Of TransferTransposition MechanismsTransposon Mutagenesis
These observations provide the basis for efficient DNA‑mediated gene transfer in Drosophila. Recombinant DNA containing a 3‑kb transposable element was injected into Drosophila embryos lacking such elements. Under optimal conditions, roughly half of surviving embryos transmitted 1–5 intact 3‑kb P elements to their progeny, showing efficient and selective transposition from extrachromosomal DNA into germ‑line chromosomes.
Recombinant DNA carrying the 3-kilobase transposable element was injected into Drosophila embryos of a strain that lacked such elements. Under optimum conditions, half of the surviving embryos showed evidence of P element-induced mutations in a fraction of their progeny. Direct analysis of the DNA of strains derived from such flies showed them to contain from one to five intact 3-kilobase P elements located at a wide variety of chromosomal sites. DNA sequences located outside the P element on the injected DNA were not transferred. Thus P elements can efficiently and selectively transpose from extrachromosomal DNA to the DNA of germ line chromosomes in Drosophila embryos. These observations provide the basis for efficient DNA-mediated gene transfer in Drosophila.
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