A possibility to achieve genetic transformation in the platyfish-swordtail system (Platypoecilus maculatus - Xiphophorus helleri).

In order to determine how informative homologous donor DNA might be made available to propigment cells of the recipient Xiphophorus helleri for transformation, labelled heterologous DNA from E. coli was injected into the neural crest region or the yolk sac of embryos of the recipient. On the basis of the degradation rate of the donor DNA and the incorporation rate of radioactivity into the recipient DNA, it is concluded that injection into the neural crest region may be a suitable method to make available informative homologous donor DNA for transformation.