Nature's original genetic engineers are hiding in plain sight
The unusual lumps found on some trees are more than just growths. This video explores how a specific bacterium performs a natural form of genetic engineering to manipulate plant biology for its own survival.
The growths, or tumours, seen on certain trees are often the work of Agrobacterium. This bacterium possesses a remarkable ability to inject its own DNA directly into the plant's genome. This process forces the tree to develop tumours that serve as dedicated nutrient sources for the bacteria.
This phenomenon represents a natural form of genetic modification. The mechanism is so effective that scientists have repurposed it in the lab, using Agrobacterium to genetically modify plants by replacing the original bacterial DNA with a new payload.
Source: Tree tumours are GMOs but they're not made by humans
