Gene transfection in mammlian cells: an evaluation of the potential mutagenic effects

We have investigated at a cytological and molecular level, the effects of gene transfer in an in vitro model system. We have used NIH 3T3 as recipient cells, a YAC carrying the neo gene as a vector and lipofection and electroporation as delivery systems. In the stable transformants obtained we have evaluated the following biological endpoints: a) distribution of chromosome numbers, b) chromosome aberrations, c) sister chromatid exchanges, d) DNA fingerprints, e) number and localisation of the integration sites, f) neo-gene expression.