In the past, cloned DNA was introduced into cultured eukaryotic cells chiefly by biochemical methods using either calcium phosphate or diethylaminoethyl (DEAE)-dextran. Lipid reagents are now preferred because of the high efficiency of transfection that can be obtained and because of the ability of this class of reagents to mediate transfection of all types of nucleic acids into a wide range of cell types.
© 2019 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.