What is gene transfer and how is it used?
In any cell, the information held by DNA is used to produce proteins. For example, the human insulin protein is made and processed using information held within an insulin gene. Gene transfer is the act of moving genetic material (DNA) into an organism. Using gene transfer, it is possible to either increase or decrease the amount of a particular protein within an organism, or obtain useful proteins in a way that would not normally be possible using conventional breeding methods. For example, it is possible to increase the amount of vitamin A in rice by transferring genes to produce a protein that is used to make vitamin A. Most often, bacteria called Agrobacterium are used to transfer genes to plants. Agrobacterium naturally parasitizes plants, causing crown gall, by transferring some bacterial DNA into the plant DNA. Scientists have long since altered laboratory strains of Agrobacterium so that they no longer cause the plant disease, but still transfer their DNA to plants. Thus, by us
