What is the Difference Between Transfection and Transduction?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Transfection and transduction are methods used to introduce foreign nucleic acids into cells, resulting in the modification of the host cell genome. The main differences between these two processes are the methods used for introducing the genetic material and the type of cells they are applied to:
Transfection:
- The process of introducing nucleic acids into cells by non-viral methods.
- Commonly used for eukaryotic cells.
- Can be performed using chemical-based products (e.g., calcium phosphate, cationic polymers, liposomes) or non-chemical methods (e.g., electroporation).
- Transfection can result in transient or stable expression of DNA in cells, depending on the method used.
Transduction:
- The process whereby foreign DNA is introduced into another cell via a viral vector.
- Can be applied to both bacterial and eukaryotic cells.
- Involves the use of viral vector carriers, such as lentiviral vectors, adeno-associated viruses (AAV), and adenoviruses.
- Transduction can also result in transient or stable expression of DNA in cells, depending on the method or viral tool used.
Both transfection and transduction methods are optimal for different types of experiments, and the choice between them depends on factors such as the type of cells being used, the desired expression level of the introduced genetic material, and the specific experimental requirements.
Comparative Table: Transfection vs Transduction
Transfection and transduction are both gene transfer techniques used to introduce foreign nucleic acids into target cells. However, they differ in the methods used for gene transfer. Here is a table summarizing the differences between transfection and transduction:
| Transfection | Transduction |
|---|---|
| Uses chemical-based carriers to transfer genetic material | Uses viral vector carriers to transfer genetic material |
| Methods include calcium phosphate, cationic polymers (PEI), liposomes, and electroporation | Methods include lentiviral vectors, adeno-associated viruses (AAV), and adenoviruses |
| Can be transient or stable, depending on the method used | Typically used to introduce genetic material in a stable way |
| Less efficient and effective compared to transduction | More efficient and effective at gene transfer than transfection |
Both transfection and transduction can result in transient or stable expression of the introduced DNA, depending on the method or viral tool used. While transfection uses chemical-based carriers to transfer genetic material, transduction uses viral vectors to transfer genetic material into cells.
- Transformation vs Transfection
- Transformation vs Transduction
- Cisgenesis vs Transgenesis
- Transformation vs Transmutation
- Plasmid vs Transposon
- Transposon vs Retrotransposon
- Transcription vs Translation
- Generalized vs Specialized Transduction
- Transient vs Stable Transfection
- Transmitter vs Transducer
- DNA Transposons vs Retrotransposons
- Endocytosis vs Transcytosis
- Transition vs Transversion
- Electroporation vs Microinjection
- Radioactivity vs Transmutation
- Translocation vs Crossing Over
- Transcription vs Reverse Transcription
- Propagation vs Transmission
- Replication vs Transcription