January 31, 2013

ISB News Report - February 2013
by Daniele Rosellini and Fabio Veronesi

Plant cell transformation is not efficient—a very small percentage of treated cells become transgenic. Therefore, plant genetic engineering relies on selectable genes. Positive selectable marker genes (SMGs) allow only the transgenic cells to regenerate into plants. Negative SMGs also exist, which confer a selective disadvantage to the cells and can be used to counter-select undesired transformation events (for example, random integrations when trying to accomplish site-specific integration).

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Website: http://www.isb.vt.edu

Published: February 1, 2013