DNA transplantation, in the context of the provided reference, isn't about surgically moving DNA. Instead, it refers to how DNA from cellular debris can be taken up by other cells. Here's how it happens:
Fragments of DNA from dead cells are taken up via phagocytosis and incorporated into new cells.
The Process of DNA Uptake
The reference highlights a specific mechanism for how DNA from dead or dying cells can be "transplanted" into other cells:
- Cellular Disintegration: Cells die and break apart into fragments, including their organelles and DNA.
- Phagocytosis by Scavenger Cells: Specialized cells, known as scavenger cells, located in the lymph nodes, spleen, and liver, engulf these fragments through a process called phagocytosis.
- Digestion: Once inside the scavenger cells, the cellular debris, including the donor DNA, is digested.
- Incorporation into Dendritic Cells (DCs): Some of the digested material, including fragments of donor DNA, is incorporated into dendritic cells (DCs). DCs are antigen-presenting cells that play a crucial role in the immune system.
- Processing: Inside the DCs, the donor DNA is further processed.
Significance
This process is significant because:
- It can lead to the transfer of genetic information between cells, even after cell death.
- It plays a role in immune responses, as DCs present the processed donor DNA to other immune cells.
