Patent ID: 6753139
Filing Date: 2004-06-22
Classification: A01N,A61P,C12N

Abstract:
A method of detecting the silencing of a target gene in a plant, wherein said silencing is initiated by introduction of an exogenous nucleic acid, which method comprises the steps of:(i) obtaining a sample of material from said plant, (ii) producing a nucleic acid extract from said sample, (iii) analyzing said extract such as to determine the presence or absence of short RNA molecules which are 21-25 nucleotides in length (SRMs) in said extract, (iv) characterizing any SRMs which are present in said extract such as to determine sequence identity or similarity with said target gene, and (v) correlating the presence of said SRMs having sequence identity or similarity with said target gene in the extract with the occurrence of gene silencing in said plant.