Abstract: The striated muscle of the tongue of an animal (in particular, a mammal) is employed as the target tissue for direct DNA injection of an exogenous polynucleotide sequence encoding a biologically active molecule. The DNA is incorporated into the tongue muscle cells and the polypeptide encoded thereby expressed, resulting in the production of a biologically active molecule. Superior levels of expression of the injected exogenous polynucleotide are achieved relative to injection in other types of cells, in particular other types of muscle cells. Moreover, the striated muscle of the tongue represent an easily accessed anatomic location that has not previously been used for direct DNA injection.