Agrobacterium tumefaciens, a soil rhizosphere bacterium, can attach to plant cells and infect them with a callus-inducing Ti plasmid by horizontal gene transfer, causing a callus infection called crown gall disease. Schell and Van Montagu (1977) hypothesised that the Ti plasmid could be a natural vector for introducing the Nif gene responsible for nitrogen fixation in the root nodules of legumes and other plant species. Today, genetic modification of the Ti plasmid is one of the main techniques for introduction of transgenes to plants and the creation of genetically modified crops. COUNT 5
QSN1 How can a bacteria in the soil affect a plant? ANS1 can attach to plant cells QSN2 How can scientists use bacteria in the study of plants? ANS2 introducing the Nif gene QSN3 How are genes transferred to a plant by scientists? ANS3 in the root nodules QSN4 What is this kind of introduction and transfer used for? ANS4 creation of genetically modified crops QSN5 Who developed the procedures used in this transfer? ANS5 Schell and Van Montagu