Question

The following bacterium is considered as a natural genetic engineer:

• A. E. coli
• B. Pseudomonas aeruginosa
• C. Agrobacterium tumefaciens
• D. Xanthomonas axonopodis

Hint:

Agrobacterium tumefaciens is central to modern plant biotechnology, as its natural ability to transfer DNA has been adapted for gene transfer in plants.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a bacterium that has the natural ability to transfer part of its DNA into plant cells, specifically the T-DNA from its Ti (tumor-inducing) plasmid. This characteristic makes it a "natural genetic engineer," as it can cause genetic changes in plants by inserting foreign genes into their genome. This ability has been widely exploited in plant biotechnology for creating genetically modified plants.

(1) Agrobacterium tumefaciens:
- This bacterium is responsible for the crown gall disease in plants and is the key tool in plant genetic engineering, allowing for the introduction of new genes into plants through a process called Agrobacterium-mediated transformation.

(2) Why Other Options Are Incorrect:
- E. coli (Option 1) is a widely used bacterium in molecular biology for cloning and gene expression but does not have the ability to transfer DNA into plants.
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Option 2) is a pathogen that affects humans and animals and is not involved in genetic engineering of plants.
- Xanthomonas axonopodis (Option 4) is a bacterium that causes plant diseases but does not have the ability to genetically modify plants as Agrobacterium does.

Conclusion: Agrobacterium tumefaciens is considered a natural genetic engineer due to its ability to transfer DNA into plant cells, a key process in genetic modification.