As Software and Cuba, now free biotechnology!
2005/06/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria
Researchers from the Australian Camberra have presented a new technique of genetic transformation of plants. Normally, to introduce foreign genes into a plant's genome, the bacterium Agrobacterium is used as a vector. This allows modifying the characteristics of the plant. However, the system is not cheap, as the technology based on Agrobacterium is patented.
The researchers have sought to replace Agrobacterium, obtaining very good results with three bacteria, Sinorhizobium meliloti, Mesorhizobium loti and NGR234 of the genus Rhizobium. These bacteria, present in nature, interact spontaneously with plants. For example, they are common in the roots of beans and peas plants and are beneficial to them as they help them take nitrogen.
Through these bacteria, in addition to studying the integration of genes into the plant genome, researchers have developed a gene transfer system. They have left everything free for anyone who wants to use it. However, they point out that advances in this technology must also be public. From now on, biotechnology research is expected to be easier.
