In chromosome of key biotech bacterium, different setups bring different strengths

In chromosome of key biotech bacterium, different setups bring different strengths

Depending on the setting, the ability of a crucial bacterium in biotechnology—Agrobacterium tumefaciens—to transfer its DNA to a host plant can make it either a pathogen that damages crops or a powerful method for genetically enhancing them.

In Chromosome of Key Biotech Bacterium, Different Setups Bring Different Strengths

In a first-of-its-kind study, an Iowa State University research team found that the way DNA is arranged in a bacterial species used extensively in genetic engineering can change how well it grows, survives stress and infects plants.