Transgenic plants
/trænzˈdʒɛnɪk plænts/
Definition
Transgenic plants are plants whose DNA has been deliberately altered by inserting one or more genes from another organism using genetic engineering. This is a biological concept and a type of genetically modified plant. The added gene, called a transgene, becomes part of the plant’s genome and can be inherited. This distinguishes transgenic plants from plants changed only by selective breeding, mutation, or gene editing without foreign DNA insertion.
Role in Plant Biology
- Trait expression in whole plants: In transgenic plants, an introduced gene can change a visible or measurable trait, such as insect resistance, herbicide tolerance, or altered flower color, by directing the plant to make a new protein or modify an existing pathway.
- Research tool for gene function: Scientists use transgenic plants to test what specific genes do in growth, flowering, stress responses, and disease resistance. This helps connect a DNA sequence to an observable plant trait.
- Interaction with breeding: Transgenic plants are separate from conventional hybrids and selective breeding, but they can be combined with both. After a trait is introduced, breeders may cross it into adapted crop lines.
- Relevance to regulation and identification: Because they carry added genetic material, transgenic plants are tracked through molecular testing and are often subject to regulatory review. In most cases, they cannot be identified reliably by appearance alone.
Related Terms
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