New research published June 8 in BioMed Central‘s open access journal BMC Genomics reveals that the Malaysian parasitic plant Rafflesia cantleyi, with its 50cm diameter flowers, has ‘stolen’ genes from its host Tetrastigma rafflesiae. Analysis of these genes shows that their functions range from respiration to metabolism, and that some of them have even replaced the parasites own gene activity.
Vertical gene transfer occurs between parents and their offspring, while horizontal gene transfer is the movement of genes between two different organisms. Bacteria use horizontal gene transfer to exchange resistance to antibiotics. Recent studies have shown that plants can also use horizontal gene transfer, especially parasitic plants and their hosts due to their intimate physical connections.
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This is the problem that GM crops are facing when exposed to non-GM crops in adjacent fields, or to weeds that root in fields where GM crops are planted. The genetic properties can transmigrate from one plant to another through proximity. Transfer occurs through the root systems.
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Interesting post. Learnt about horizontal and vertical gene transfer.
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