A team of scientists has developed an “open-source” alternative to one of the most effective - but patent-protected - ways of genetically modifying plants. Scientists need to pay for licences if they use Agrobacterium; thought to be the only bacterium able to transfer foreign genes into plants. But new research in Nature shows other bacteria can carry out gene transfer. This could allow scientists to avoid the complex patent licencing process, which some say stifles innovation. The properties of Agrobacterium tumefaciens allow scientists to engineer any desired genes into the bacterial DNA and then insert them into plant genomes. It has hundreds of patents issued on it, with biotech giants Monsanto and Syngenta amongst the significant rights holders. The microbe, which causes plant tumours in the wild, is used widely in research. But patent rights are rarely enforced until scientists decide to commercialise the fruits of their work.
