Earthsave International (2002). Genetically Modified Foods: You too can be a part of a corporate experiment! Retrieved June 5, 2008, from http://www.earthsave.org/pdf/spring2002.pdf


What is the procedure of making GMF?

In order to get the gene into the plant cell, the physical barriers of the plant have to be overcome. Usually, the gene is either inserted into the plant directly (“gene gun”) or infected into the plant cell (“viral vector”). As it is difficult for the genes to get into the plant cell (1 in 10,000 chances), an antibiotic resistance marker gene will usually be attached to the gene. If the organism’s cells survive when grown on a plate with that specific antibiotic, the gene has successfully entered the plant cell. To ensure that it does not remain in an idle mode, a promoter will also be attached to the gene to make sure that it is functioning the way it is supposed to.