The Ti-Plasmid was Used as the Platform for Genetically Engineering

Question

The Ti-plasmid was used as the platform for genetically engineering plants.

Accepted Answer

The Ti-plasmid (tumor-inducing plasmid) was discovered in Agrobacterium tumefaciens, a soil bacterium that causes crown gall disease in plants. The Ti-plasmid can transfer a portion of its DNA, known as T-DNA (transfer DNA), into the plant genome, leading to the formation of a tumor. However, scientists have harnessed the natural genetic engineering ability of the Ti-plasmid to introduce genes of interest into plants for various applications, such as improving crop yield, disease resistance, and nutritional content.