Principles used in the genetic modification process of food

There are five major steps involved in genetically engineering plants. These are DNA isolation, single gene cloning, gene designing, cell transformation, and backcross breeding.
Firstly, the DNA is extracted from an organism that has the desired trait. The desired gene is then located and copied. The gene is added into a single plant cell using a transformation technique. If the transgene successfully lands in the cells nucleus and is incorporated into one of the chromosomes, then the trait that it codes for will be expressed in the cell's offspring.
• The cell proliferates and grows into new plant that contains the desired genes
• Through pollination the transgenic plant is crossed with a plant from a high yielding line. The resulting hybrids are the genetically modified plants that can be sold in the market.
Available at: http://www.princeton.edu/~chm333/2002/spring/GMFoods/howtooverview.html (accessed 15 June 2008)

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Aziyani