Regarding the infectivity of naked DNA

[Patrick O'Neil]

On 15 May 1995, Chuckles wrote:

> >
> >As regard DNA and RNA not being able to infect, DNA is being used to 
> >inoculate animals and cause disease.  DNA not being infectious used to be 
> >the dogma but, this is no longer true.  Viral DNA is used to infect.  Mary
> >
> I haven't heard this before.  Could you please post the references for this.
> 

I have never heard of an injection/inoculation of any animal or tissue
with viral DNA _in_a_manner_similar_to_what_appears_to_be_suggested_above. 
On the other hand, a tried and true direct injection of certain viruse's
DNA into host cells can lead to viral infection.  It is one thing to
directly inject the DNA _into_ a cell and quite another to attempt the
same outcome by injection into the circulatory system or simple
application of a DNA-containing solution to the skin (neither method would
work). 

Patrick