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10 Identifying restorer genes in plants
  Maureen R. Hanson, Molecular Biology and Genetics, and research team identified a gene that restores pollen production to sterile plants. Working with the petunia, a decorative plant, the researchers located the fertility restorer gene in the plant cell nuclei of particular petunia varieties. This gene prevents an abnormal gene in the cells' mitochondria from disrupting pollen production. No other plant gene that can turn off the expression of a defective
mitochondrial gene had been previously
discovered. Knowing the general location of the gene in one plant genome helps to pinpoint it in other plants. Identifying a crop plant's
natural restorer gene helps plant breeders transfer the gene more quickly to advanced breeding lines either by traditional methods or genetic engineering techniques. > Back / > Next Article / > Back to Listing © 2003 by the Office of the Vice Provost for Research [OVPR], Cornell University. |
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