Frost Resistant Corn

Genetic Process
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How to add a fish gene to corn.
 
Scientists have created a frost-resistant tomato plant by adding an antifreeze gene from a cold-water fish to it. The antifreeze gene comes from the cold-water flounder, a fish that can survive in very cold conditions. This is how it was done.

1)  The flounder has a gene to make an antifreeze chemical. This is removed from the chromosomes within a flounder cell.

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2)  The antifreeze DNA is joined onto a piece of DNA called a plasmid.  This hybrid DNA, which is a combination of DNA from 2 different sources, is known as recombinant DNA.

3)  The recombinant DNA, including the antifreeze gene, is placed in the bacteria Erwinia stewartii.  This bacteria has the plasmid pSW100.  By using this plasmid the plant will not wilt.

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4)  The bacterium is allowed to reproduce many times producing lots of copies of the recombinant DNA.

5)  Corn plant cells are infected with the bacteria. As a result, the antifreeze gene in the plasmid, in the bacteria becomes integrated into the corn plant cell DNA.

6)  Corn cells are placed in a growth medium that encourages the cells to grow into plants.

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7)  A corn plant seedling is planted.
 
8)  This Genetically Modified corn plant contains a copy of the flounder antifreeze gene in every one of its cells. The plant is tested to see if the fish gene still works, and it does.