What is the Difference Between Biolistic and Microinjection

The key difference between biolistic and microinjection is that in biolistic transformation, plant cells are bombarded with high-velocity microparticles made of gold or tungsten coated with DNA, whereas in microinjection, recombinant DNA is directly injected into the nucleus of animal cells.

Genetic transformation is the transfer of foreign DNA into target cells. There are different transformation techniques. Among them, biolistic transformation and microinjection are two physical methods that can directly introduce DNA into target cells without the aid of a vector. Both are effective transformation methods. Biolistic transformation is commonly used in making transgenic plants, while microinjection is commonly used in making transgenic animals. Both procedures need special devices and skilled personnel.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Biolistic 
3. What is Microinjection
4. Similarities – Biolistic and Microinjection
5. Biolistic vs. Microinjection in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Biolistic vs. Microinjection

What is Biolistic?

Biolistic transformation or gene gun method is a technique of injecting DNA directly into plant cells. This method uses a device called a gene gun, propelling DNA-coated microparticles of gold or tungsten at high velocities through bombardment. Therefore, it is a particle-mediated transformation technique. Usually, DNA is delivered to plant cells directly using this method. Once delivered into the cell, the DNA elutes from the microparticles and efficiently integrates with the host genome.

In this method, DNA should be first mixed with particles of a heavy metal like gold or tungsten. When mixed, particles stick with negatively charged DNA. Then, these DNA/particles should be loaded into a plastic bullet. Using a pressurized helium gas, the plastic bullet is shot toward the plant cells by the gene gun. The plastic bullet will be stopped at the end of the shaft, sending microparticle-coated DNA with great speed and force.

This method enables the delivery of large DNA fragments. This method is simple, and no vector is required. Furthermore, this method enables the delivery of multiple plasmids and the transformation of many different tissues and cell types. Biolistic transformation enables direct delivery of mRNA or proteins as well. However, this method requires a high input cost and is a relatively low throughput method. Most importantly, it is difficult to control the cellular target in this method.

What is Microinjection?

Microinjection is an artificial method of DNA transferring into target cells. It is a physical method. In microinjection, DNA is directly injected into host cells using a fine-tipped glass needle or micropipette. This is usually done under the observation of a specialized optical microscope setup called a micromanipulator.

This technique is mainly employed for delivering DNA into a single cell. Computerized control has enabled the easy doing of this technique. The frequency of successful transformation is high in this technique. Moreover, DNA injected by this method is subject to less extensive modification than other methods. However, microinjection is a costly process. Skilled personnel are also required to employ this method. Furthermore, walled cells are not suitable for delivering DNA using microinjection.

Microinjection is more commonly used in the production of transgenic animals like transgenic mice. Moreover, in in vitro fertilization, micromanipulation is used for intracytoplasmic sperm injection in order for a successful fertilization.

What are the Similarities Between Biolistic and Microinjection?

• Biolistic and microinjection are two techniques used in recombinant DNA technology.
• They are techniques for delivering DNA into host cells.
• Both are physical methods of transformation.
• They are costly methods.
• Both techniques use devices instead of a vector.
• They require skilled professionals.

What is the Difference Between Biolistic and Microinjection?

Biolistic transformation is done using a gene gun, while microinjection is done using a micromanipulator. Thus, this is the key difference between biolistic and microinjection. Furthermore, biolistic transformation uses gold or tungsten particles, while microinjection does not need metal particles. Moreover, biolistic transformation is commonly used in making transgenic plants, while microinjection is commonly used in making transgenic animals.

The infographic below presents the differences between biolistic and microinjection in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

FAQ: Biolistic and Microinjection

What is a biolistics gene gun?

What is the difference between microinjection and electroporation?

Microinjection is a manual technique that involves injecting genetic material directly into a single cell using a fine micropipette. It offers precise control but is labor-intensive and suitable for individual cells. Electroporation, on the other hand, is an automated and high-throughput approach that uses brief electric pulses to create temporary pores in the cell membrane, allowing the entry of genetic material into a large population of cells simultaneously. It is efficient for genetic transformation experiments involving many cells at once.

What are the advantages of the biolistic method?

The biolistic method is versatile, applicable to various organisms, and doesn’t require specific host organisms or tissue types. This technique is effective for delivering large and complex DNA fragments into target cells, suitable for non-dividing cells, and reduces the risk of vector contamination.

Summary – Biolistic vs. Microinjection

In molecular biology, foreign DNA is introduced into host cells. This is the process of transformation. Biolistic and microinjection are physical methods of transformation in which DNA is directly delivered into target cells. Biolistic transformation uses a gene gun to deliver DNA into plant cells, while microinjection uses a micromanipulator to inject DNA. So, this summarizes the difference between biolistic and microinjection.

Reference:

1. “Past, Present and Future Prospect on Microinjection Gene ….” – Iopscience.
2. Ismagul, Ainur, et al. “A Biolistic Method for High-Throughput Production of Transgenic Wheat Plants with Single Gene Insertions – BMC Plant Biology.” BioMed Central, BioMed Central.

Image Courtesy:

1. “OSC Microbio 12 01 GeneGun” By CNX OpenStax (CC BY 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Microinjection of a human egg” By KDS444 – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia