Site-Specific Recombination and the Development of Cisgenic Plants

Abstract

The commercialization of transgenic plants almost three decades ago was accompanied by controversies that highlighted concerns that relate to human health and the environment. This has resulted in continued research efforts to further improve molecular genetic approaches to plant genetic engineering. One such approach involves the use of site-specific recombination mechanisms to produce cisgenic plants. This chapter describes the different methods for site-specific recombination and briefly comments on their potential for widespread adoption in the production of cisgenic plants. The chapter concludes by showcasing some cisgenic plants under development and highlights how cisgenic plants circumvent some concerns associated with first-generation transgenic plants.