What term is used for substances that help transfer DNA into other cells?

The term used for substances that assist in the transfer of DNA into other cells is "vectors." Vectors are biological agents, often viruses or plasmids, that can carry foreign DNA into host cells. This process is essential in various biotechnological applications, including gene therapy, cloning, and genetic engineering, where introducing new genetic material into a cell can lead to the expression of desired traits or proteins.

Vectors are specially designed to be efficient at facilitating this transfer, often containing specific sequences that promote uptake and integration of the DNA into the host genome. Other options, such as enzymes, play roles in various biological processes, including DNA replication and modification, but they do not directly serve as carriers of DNA. Chemicals might refer to agents that can facilitate reactions or alter DNA but are not specific to the function of transferring DNA into cells. Chromosomes are structures that carry DNA within cells but are not involved in the transfer process from one cell to another.