Shooting DNA into a cell.

A specially designed gene gun using compressed helium gas fires dozens of metal pieces at target cells. The tiny pellets, usually of tungsten or gold, are much smaller then the target cell, and coated with DNA. While the shell cartridge is stopped in its tracks by a perforated metal plate, the metallic particles are able to penetrate into living cells where the genetic material is then carried to the nucleus to be integrated among the host organsim's genes.