What is the Difference Between Transformation and Transfection?
🆚 Go to Comparative Table 🆚Transformation and transfection are techniques used to introduce foreign nucleic acids into living cells, but they differ in the type of cells they are used for and the methods employed.
Transformation:
- This process is used for bacterial cells, where genetic material, often in the form of plasmids, is taken up from the environment.
- It occurs naturally in some bacteria, and certain factors can promote transformation in different species.
- In the lab, scientists harness transformation to study the effects of specific genetic changes in bacterial cells.
Transfection:
- Transfection is employed for eukaryotic cells, where foreign nucleic acids, such as DNA or RNA, are forcibly introduced into the cells.
- There are two types of transfection: transient and stable.
- Various methods are used for transfection, including physical methods like electroporation and microinjection, chemical methods like lipofection, and viral methods.
The distinction between transformation and transfection is important because in higher eukaryotic cells, transformation refers to the process by which cells become malignant. While both techniques involve the introduction of foreign DNA into cells, they are used for different types of cells and employ different methods to achieve their goals.
Comparative Table: Transformation vs Transfection
The differences between transformation and transfection are primarily based on the type of host cells and the methods used to introduce foreign nucleic acids into the cells:
| Feature | Transfection | Transformation |
|---|---|---|
| Target Cells | Eukaryotic cells (e.g., mammalian, plant, yeast) | Bacterial cells |
| Method of Introduction | Chemical, physical, and viral methods (e.g., chemical transformation, electroporation, particle bombardment) | Chemical transformation, electroporation, particle bombardment |
| Uptake of Genetic Material | Deliberately introduced into the host cells | Directly uptaken and incorporated through the environment |
| Gene Expression | Stable and long-lasting (stable transfection) or transient and short-lived (transient transfection) | Expressed in the recipient host cells and passed on to daughter progeny |
Transfection is a technique employed to transfer foreign nucleic acids (DNA, RNA, or antibodies) into eukaryotic cells, typically for research purposes, such as studying gene function, molecular pathways, or gene therapeutic approaches. In contrast, transformation is a process in which bacterial cells uptake and incorporate genetic material from the environment, such as plasmid DNA or fragmented DNA. This process is used in various applications, including genetic engineering and cloning.
- Transfection vs Transduction
- Transformation vs Transduction
- Transformation vs Transmutation
- Transient vs Stable Transfection
- Cisgenesis vs Transgenesis
- Plasmid vs Transposon
- Transition vs Transversion
- Transcription vs Translation
- Immortalized vs Transformed Cells
- Change vs Transformation
- Transformants vs Recombinants
- Transposon vs Retrotransposon
- Electroporation vs Microinjection
- Radioactivity vs Transmutation
- Biotransformation vs Metabolism
- Generalized vs Specialized Transduction
- Translocation vs Crossing Over
- DNA Transposons vs Retrotransposons
- Endocytosis vs Transcytosis