DNA transformation by local heat shock

Abstract

DNA transformation by local heat shock using a MEMS device has been successfully demonstrated using an on-chip micro heater and corresponding microfluidic system. The transformation experiments have been conducted and 200% improvement in transformation efficiency was shown as compared with control tests using conventional methodology. Moreover, the green fluorescent proteins expressed from the transformed DNA in cells were verified under a fluorescence microscope, showing all cells grown from antibiotic selection after transformation have transformed DNA working correctly as expected. As such, this work complements other on-going lab-on-a- chip researches for possible gene cloning, gene therapy, and protein expression applications.