Recombinant DNA is directly injected into the nucleus of an animal cell. This method is known as-
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Micro-injection
Option (1) Biolistics — Incorrect. In biolistics (gene gun), cells are bombarded with gold or tungsten particles coated with DNA. It is the method suitable for plants.
Option (2) Transformation — Incorrect. Transformation is the uptake of DNA by a host cell, e.g. competent bacteria taking up plasmids after treatment with calcium ions and heat shock.
Option (3) Micro-injection — Correct. Recombinant DNA is injected directly into the nucleus of an animal cell.
Option (4) Insertion — Incorrect. There is no such method of putting DNA into a host cell.
Note: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2026 on 25-05-2026 (Slot 2) and on 22-05-2026 (Slot 1).
NCERT Extract:
Cloning Vectors – “… Recombinant DNA can then be forced into such cells by incubating the cells with recombinant DNA on ice, followed by placing them briefly at 420C (heat shock), and then putting them back on ice. This enables the bacteria to take up the recombinant DNA. This is not the only way to introduce alien DNA into host cells. In a method known as micro-injection, recombinant DNA is directly injected into the nucleus of an animal cell. In another method, suitable for plants, cells are bombarded with high velocity micro-particles of gold or tungsten coated with DNA in a method known as biolistics or gene gun. And the last method uses ‘disarmed pathogen’ vectors, which when allowed to infect the cell, transfer the recombinant DNA into the host.”