Horizontal Gene Transfer
{"Image DocumentName": "Horizontal Gene Transfer", "Image ImageDescription": "Many Scientists are concerned about the horizontal transfer of the CaMV promoter virus into other virus \u2013 CaMV \u2013 Cauliflower Mosaic Virus. The potential to create new transgenic viruses of unknown consequences. The swine flu virus H1N1 is an example of a natural transgenic construct with avian, swine and human virus sequences. \u2013 this would have occurred through natural horizontal gene transfer. Using genetic engineering, scientists take genes from bacteria, viruses or other sources and force them into the DNA of a plant. There are 5 steps. First they isolate the gene that they want to insert and then change it so that it works in plants. They prepare plant cells to be inserted. Insertion is often done using a gene gun, where they coat tiny particles of gold or tungsten with genes and then shoot them into a plate of cells. Alternatively, they can use bacteria to infect plants with the foreign gene. Once the gene gets into the DNA of the plant cell, the cell is cloned (using tissue culture) into a full plant. All but one of these steps contain scientific uncertainties and risks for health and the environment.", "Image XResolution": "37", "Image YResolution": "37", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Centimeter", "Image Software": "SlidePlayer", "Image YCbCrPositioning": "Centered"}