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Considering our knowledge of biomembrane structure, predict which of the following methods are effective ways of introducing recombinant DNA across the plasma membrane and into eukaryotic cells

A: Poke holes in the plasma membrane with a pulse of high voltage electricity
B: Precipitate the DNA to be taken up by endocytosis
C: Package the DNA inside a liposome
D: Shoot the DNA into the cell with a "gene gun".
E: Incorporate the DNA into a viral genome packaged into a virus particle

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Final answer:

A: Poke holes in the plasma membrane with a pulse of high voltage electricity. D: Shoot the DNA into the cell with a "gene gun". Effective methods to transfer recombinant DNA into eukaryotic cells include Electroporation, encapsulating DNA in liposomes, using gene guns, and employing viral vectors. These techniques utilize the characteristics of cell membranes and specialized strategies to facilitate DNA entry into cells.

Step-by-step explanation:

There are several effective methods for introducing recombinant DNA across the plasma membrane into eukaryotic cells. One such method is Electroporation, where a high voltage electric pulse creates transient pores in the biomembrane, allowing DNA to enter the cell due to the induced electrical charge difference.

Another strategy is using liposomes to encapsulate the DNA. As liposomes are made from phospholipids similar to the plasma membrane, they can fuse with the cell membrane, delivering their DNA payload inside the cell.

Furthermore, gene guns are used, especially in plant cells, to shoot DNA-coated particles into cells. Lastly, viral vectors can be harnessed to incorporate recombinant DNA into a virus particle, which then infects the target cell and integrates the DNA.

Each of these methods takes advantage of the biomembrane's properties and potential manipulations to transfer DNA effectively into eukaryotic cells.

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