Overview and Objectives - Gene Regions

This lesson describes the three gene regions and their roles in gene expression. It also discusses how the regions of a gene can be altered to obtain desired trait expression.

At the completion of this lesson, you should be able to:

  • Explain why gene design is an important step in the crop genetic engineering process.
  • List the three regions of a gene and explain their roles in gene expression.
  • Describe the two promoters discussed (35S and PEP carboxylase) and how their expression differs.
  • Describe the three Bt coding regions discussed (Cry1A(b), Cry1A(c), and Cry 9c) and how their expression differs.
  • Explain how gene design could be used to deal with pest resistance to the Bt toxin.

Development of this lesson was supported in part by Cooperative State Research, Education, & Extension Service, U.S. Dept of Agriculture under Agreement Number 98-EATP-1-0403 administered by Cornell University and the American Distance Education Consortium (ADEC). Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.