How does it work?

How does it work? Inserting a single gene from the ringspot virus into papaya DNA made the papaya resistant to the virus. Let's take a closer look at how papaya was genetically engineered. Step 1. Scientists identified a gene from the virus that could give the papaya resistance. Step 2. Enzymes(proteins that can control chemical reactions) were used to cut the gene out of the virus DNA at specific points. Step 3. The viral gene was copied. Step 4. A gene package was created by adding other DNA to both ends of the viral gene. This DNA is important for turning the gene on. A marker gene was also added to show if the viral gene was inserted successfully. Step 5. Microscopic gold pellets were coated with the virus gene package and shot into papay cells using a gene gun. Step 6. The papaya cells were grown into plants and checked to see if they could resist the virus. THe plants did show resistance and grew healthy and strong! Currently about 80% if the papayas grown in Hawaii are genetically engineered.