Transfer of DNA from genetically modified plants to bacteria

The numbers of genetically modified plants being constructed worldwide are continually increasing, which has brought about a debate on the possibility of uncontrolled spread of transgenic DNA through the environment. In this report, the focus is on the (interkingdom) transfer of transgenic DNA from plants to bacteria. A study of the available recent literature on Horizontal Gene Transfer (HGT) from transgenic plants to bacteria was performed and in addition, the topic was discussed in a two-day workshop with experts in the field.