> There certainly are examples of such 'jumping genes' in several > kingdoms of biology. The question is whether in this rumoured case the > microbes did incorporate into their DNA the transgene(s) which had been > artificially inserted into the plant. If so, the explanation will > presumably rely on the known higher tendency of transgenes inserted with > the CaMV promoter to jump further in horizontal gene transfer. Does that suggest that antibiotic resistance, which I believe was used as a marker for testing gene transfer success -- as mentioned here earlier -- may be one of those transgenes that may have "jump(ed) farther"? If so, then the implications are pretty amazing. allen -- A Beekeeper's Diary: http://www.internode.net/HoneyBee/Diary/ Package installation & performance experiments, winter loss, fondant feeding, Pierco vs. Permadent vs. dark comb, unwrapping bees, spring splitting tricks, AFB, varroa, protein patties, daily mumblings and more... Thousands served...