Microcell-mediated chromosome transfer (MMCT): small cells with huge potential

Microcell-mediated chromosome transfer (MMCT) is a technique that has been in use since the 1970s for the fusion of microcells, containing single or a small number of chromosomes, with whole cells, and the subsequent selection of the hybrids. MMCT can be carried out with somatic cells, embryonic carcinoma (EC) or embryonic stem (ES) cell recipients, to study in vitro or in vivo effects of the transferred genetic material. These effects may be unpredictable-do the transferred genes function normally while in the regulatory milieu of the host cell? Will epigenetic effects become apparent, and how will these alter gene expression? What happens to the host cell phenotype? Here, we present a review of MMCT in which we argue that, although this is an old technique, its adaptability and efficiency make it an excellent method for the dissection of gene function and dysfunction in a very wide range of current systems.