GMO are organisms with their natural genes altered using
recombinant DNA technology. They exclude spontaneous
mutations & crossbreeding.

Here is an exciting example: 'The Glowing Tabacco Plant'
(see picture below). The Light is the energy given off,
after reaction of Luciferin with oxygen, mediated by
Luciferase enzyme.

The gene for Luciferase from fire flies (Photinus pyralis)
is genetically engineered into a tabacco plant to make it
glow.

This is one of the methods for labelling cells for in vivo
studies by inserting 'glowing' genes into the cells to be
studied. Other labelling methods are dyes which are just
absorbed or adherent (binds) specifically to the cell
membrane, cytoplasm or the nucleus. They are easier to do.
See the example below (red), is the one I did for
practice. Bone marrow cells from rats have been labelled
with DiI to clearly visualize their cytosol as they
undergoe differentiation in vitro.

William

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