Biotechnology

Retroviruses are commonly used in gene therapy and can be engineered to deliver approximately 8000 bases of single-stranded RNA. This RNA is reverse-transcribed into DNA, which integrates into the host genome, enabling stable expression of therapeutic genes.

Adenoviruses are widely used as vectors in gene therapy due to their ability to accommodate large foreign DNA inserts. Up to 30,000 base pairs of the adenovirus genome can be replaced by foreign DNA without compromising the infectivity or effectiveness of the virus as a delivery vehicle.

Gold microparticles are used in gene gun delivery methods because they are chemically inert, biocompatible, and provide a stable platform for attaching DNA. These properties ensure efficient DNA delivery into cells without causing significant cytotoxicity.

cDNA cloning, once widely used to study gene expression and create recombinant DNA, has largely been replaced by modern techniques like high-throughput sequencing and RNA-seq. These advanced methods provide more comprehensive and efficient analysis of transcriptomes.