Posted 8/27/2006 08:05 (#39060 - in reply to #38994) Subject: Lab tour.
The "gene gun" I saw used a 22 shell with the bullet removed. The algae was tamped into the shell to replace the bullet and the "gun" was fired by pulling a short string. I guess around 2 ft. It was fired into a dish that had chopped up/massed bean leaves.
The rest of the process was basic plant reproduction. When the material is grown out enough to test they spray it with RU to see what lived or died. Repeat until you get what you want.
The reason all BT corn is RU or CL is that the CL or RU gene is used for a marker to see if the process was successful. No need to grow out to test for BT (long process) any line that didn't take the RU or CL gene. Saves a lot of time.
At least that is what the girl in the white coat said during my visit.
Roundup Ready Crops, how?
