UT Southwestern CRI Scientists Discover Human Cells Can Exchange Genomic DNA That Alters Cell Behavior

Researchers at the Children’s Medical Center Research Institute (CRI) at UT Southwestern discovered that human cells can directly transfer large pieces of genomic DNA between one another, challenging the long-held view that each cell’s genome evolves independently. The study shows that DNA can move between cells through nanotube-like structures, enter the nucleus of recipient cells, and remain biologically active across multiple cell divisions. This transferred DNA can even be inherited and alter cellular behavior, suggesting a previously unknown mechanism for how cells influence each other and potentially reshaping understanding of cancer, development, and genome stability.