The efficiency of delivering DNA into mammalian cells has increased t-
mendously since DEAE dextran was first shown to be capable of enhancing
transfer of RNA into mammalian cells in culture. Not only have other
chemical methods been developed and refined, but also very efficient
physical and viral delivery methods have been established. The technique
of introducing DNA into cells has developed from transfecting tissue
culture cells to delivering DNA to specific cell types and organs in
vivo. Moreover, two important areas of biology--assessment of gene
function and gene therapy--require succe- ful DNA delivery to cells,
driving the practical need to increase the efficiency and efficacy of
gene transfer both in vitro and in vivo. TM These two volumes of the
Methods in Molecular Biology series, Gene Del- ery to Mammalian Cells,
are designed as a compendium of those techniques that have proven most
useful in the expanding field of gene transfer in mammalian cells. It is
intended that these volumes will provide a thorough background on
chemical, physical, and viral methods of gene delivery, a synopsis of
the myriad techniques currently available to introduce genes into
mammalian cells, as well as a practical guide on how to accomplish this.
It is my expectation that it will be useful to the novice in the field
as well as to the scientist with expertise in gene delivery.