A Fellow Student Asks You: 'Why Do Scientists Use the Ti

A fellow student asks you: 'Why do scientists use the Ti plasmid in Agrobacterium to deliver genes into plants, when Ti is an acronym for "tumour inducing"? Surely we don't want to give plants tumours?' What is your response?

A) Tumours are only dangerous in mammals when they can lead to cancer and death. Lacking a true circulatory system, plants are far less vulnerable to such diseases.
B) Ti plasmids used in genetic engineering do not cause tumours as they have been modified by scientists.
C) Ti actually stands for 'transgenic induction' and the student is getting confused with other transgene delivery methods.
D) Only one species of Agrobacterium can deliver the Ti plasmid that might result in tumours, and scientists use a different species.
E) Scientists have 'disarmed' the Agrobacterium host so that it can't deliver the tumour inducing genes, only the transgenes.

Correct Answer:

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