Main description:

In ovo electroporation is an epoch-making achievement in the study of developmental biology. With this method, experiments can be carried out in gain and loss of function in desired tissue at any desired stage in chick embryos. Introduction of a tetracycline-regulated gene expression system and a transposon system has further extended the potential of the method, making it possible to obtain long-term expression and to turn on and off a gene of interest. It is now applied to mice, aquatic animals, and even to plants for the study of developmental biology and for other purposes. In this book, the application of electroporation in many embryonic tissues and organs is introduced, with some chapters that deal with gene transfer in adults. Sonoporation, another useful tool, using ultrasonic waves instead of electric currents, for gene transfer to mesenchymal tissues is also introduced.

Contents:

Electroporation.- Short History of Electroporation for the Study of Developmental Biology.- In Ovo Electroporation as a Useful Tool to Pursue Molecular Mechanisms of Neural Development in Chick Embryos.- Applications of Tol2 Transposon-Mediated Gene Transfer for Stable Integration and Conditional Expression of Electroporated Genes in Chicken Embryos.- Temporal Control of Gene Expression by Combining Electroporation and the Tetracycline Inducible Systems in Vertebrate Embryos.- In Ovo Electroporation for Targeting the Somitic Mesoderm.- Method of Electroporation for the Early Chick Embryo.- Enhancer Analysis.- Electroporation of Nucleic Acids into Chick Endoderm Both In Vitro and In Ovo.- Electroporation into the Limb: Beyond Misexpression.- Retinal Fiber Tracing by In Ovo Electroporation.- Retroviral Vector-Mediated Gene Transfer into the Chick Optic Vesicle by In Ovo Electroporation.- Clonal and Widespread Gene Transfer by Proviral Electroporation for Analysis of Brain Laminar Formation.- Electroporation into Cultured Mammalian Embryos.- In Utero Electroporation: Assay System for Migration of Cerebral Cortical Neurons.- Practical Application of Microelectroporation into Developing Mouse Brain.- Single Cell Electroporation Method for Mammalian CNS Neurons in Organotypic Slice Cultures.- Temporal and Tissue-Specific Control of Gene Expression in the Peri-Implantation Mouse Embryo Through Electroporation of dsRNA.- Gene Transfer into Mouse Haemogenic Sites, as a Mean to Functionally Approach the Control of Mesoderm Determination Towards a Haematopoietic Fate.- Electroporation of Embryonic Kidney Explants.- Transfer of Foreign DNA into Aquatic Animals by Electroporation.- Electroporation in the Regenerating Tail of the Xenopus Tadpole.- Electrotransfer of Plasmid Vector DNA into Muscle.- Bone Formation by BMP Gene Transfection.- Electroporation of the Testis.- Direct Gene Transfer into Plant Mature Seeds via Electroporation After Vacuum Treatment.- RNA Interference in Chicken Embryos.- Sonoporation.- Sonoporation in Developmental Biology.