Question

A transgenic plant was constructed by introducing a fungal gene via Agrobacterium mediated transformation. The gene was isolated from the fungus Aspergillus niger and encodes for biosynthesis of a metabolite that enhances plant growth. The gene is not present in wild type plants. However, the transgenic plants do not have the expected phenotypes. How are you going to 60 demonstrate that the fungus gene is present in those plants, despite the lack of a phenotype?

Answer 1

By the use of the selectable marker gene that was present in the vector plasmid that was used for transformation in the transgenic plant, we can prove that the fungus gene is present in the plants despite the apparent lack of phenotype.