For transformation, micro-particles coated with DNA to be bombarded with gene gun are made up of
(a) silver or platinum
(b) platinum or zinc
(c) silicon or platinum
(d) gold or tungsten.
Answer (d) : A gene or a biolistic particle delivery system, originally designed for plant transformation, is a device for injecting cells with genetic information. The payload is an elemental particle of a heavy metal such as gold or tungsten coated with plasmid DNA. The device is used to transform almost any type of cell including plants, and is not limited to genetic material of the nucleus: it can also transform organelles, including plastids.
