Premium
Excision of selectable marker genes from transgenic crops as a concern for environmental biosafety
Author(s) -
Natarajan Satheesh,
Turna Ján
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.2831
Subject(s) - selectable marker , transgene , biosafety , transformation (genetics) , biology , gene , genetically modified crops , homologous recombination , genome , microbiology and biotechnology , marker gene , genetics , genome editing , reporter gene , computational biology , gene expression
The main task in the development of transgenic plants is the capability to distinguish between plant cells with an integrated transgene and the bulk of non‐transformed cells. Selectable marker genes are required to achieve this goal within the transgene, and to select for their expression. These selectable markers are mostly based on genes conferring antibiotic or herbicide resistance. The presence of the marker gene will lead to unpredictable environmental hazards, so on the basis of economic incentives and safety concerns, several methods, such as site‐specific recombination, homologous recombination and co‐transformation, have been developed to eliminate these genes from the genome after successful transformation has been achieved. Gene transfer without the incorporation of an antibiotic‐resistance marker or herbicide‐resistance marker in the host genome should convince the public with regard to the field release of transgenic organisms. Moreover, it would obviate the need for different selectable markers in subsequent rounds of gene transfer into the same host. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry