Genetic Modification Kit

Agrobacterium tumefaciens (crown gall) produces tumours in plants such as tomatoes and sunflowers. The bacterium ‘injects’ some of its DNA into the cells of the host transforming them into cancerous cells. It also causes these cells to produce substances needed by the bacterium for growth. Students inject sunflower plants with Agrobacterium to induce gall formation and subsequently re-isolate the bacterium and grow it on agar plates.

Contents:

• Culture of Agrobacterium

• Sunflower seeds

• Nutrient broth

• Nutrient agar

• Syringes, needles

• Sodium thiosulphate

• Instructions

Sufficient for 5 students/groups.