Description

Abstract: Improving the agronomic characteristics of crops takes on a new twist with the application of ballistics to the Introduction of foreign genes to plant cells. The process, called microprojectile bombardment, shoots plant cells with transforming DNA-coated gold or tungsten particles accelerated at a speed of 500 m/sec. The DNA coating of the particles is then incorporated into the genetic material of the target cell by a yet unknown process. This technique of transforming plants has been applied extensively and has the additional advantage of being applicable for use in transforming practically all crops.