Download Agrobacterium tumefaciens

AGROBACTERIUM TUMEFACIENS(“AT” FOR
SHORT)
By: Jack Foarde & Lauren Netz
WHAT IS AGROBACTERIUM TUMEFACIENS?
• It is the causal agent of many types of tumors in
plants. It also causes crown gall disease.
• It’s rod-shaped and a Gram negative soil bacterium.
• Symptoms are caused by the insertion of a small
segment of transfer DNA from a plasmid into the
plant cell, which is implanted in a random location in
the genome.
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THIS ORGANISM IN
MAKING TRANSGENIC PLANTS?
• Scientists have used the ability of A.
tumefaciens to make transgenic plants.
• A. tumefaciens can be used and has been used
to make GMO plants since the 70s
• The AT makes galls in the plant which it then
uses as an energy source in the new, modified
plant.
CURRENT AND POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS OF
TRANSGENIC PLANTS
• The AT can create a new genetic structure in a
plant, which scientists have been using for
GMOs to use in agriculture and research
purposes.
• Using AT is a popular way for scientists to
manipulate plants because of it’s low amount of
genes.