Application of PCR to Transgenic Plants

Genetic transformation of plants has enormously matured within the last few years. It began with the introduction of genes that imparted resistance to cultivated plants against herbicides and pathogenes. More recently, there are approaches to modify the quality of plants, such that useful traits are amplified, and/or unwanted traits are eliminated. Of particular interest in medical research are experiments in which genes are introduced into the plant genome that allow expression of herbal drugs and antibodies.