The introduction of cloned genes into eukaryotic cells has become a major technique in the study of gene expression. Many experiments have demonstrated transcription of cloned genes after transfection into heterologous cell systems--cells in which the genes are not normally active. More recently, several investigators have obtained expression of specialized genes after transfection into cells of the corresponding specialized type, notably the beta-globin gene in erythroleukaemic cells and immunoglobulin genes in myeloma cells. These results allow the study of gene expression during development by comparing transcription of a gene transfected into homologous and heterologous cells. We have shown that a rearranged kappa immunoglobulin gene, cloned from a mouse myeloma, is transcribed transiently at a high level when reintroduced into mouse myeloma cells. We show here, in an internally controlled manner, that the same immunoglobulin gene is not detectably transcribed when transfected into mouse 3T3 or L cells.