From then on, the exciting story began of plant genetic transformation methods and of extensive plant genetic analysis. It is then up to the geneticist to check if the integration happened in a convenient place of the genome. Today, most transgenic plants are produced by this very efficient method. We, human, are here because our primate ancestors changed before us and it is almost inevitable that we will also change with time. Genome modifications are generated, among others, by shuffling elements in a process called genetic recombination.
Recombination occurs under different circumstances.
When a piece of DNA integrates anywhere into the genome, the process is called illegitimate recombination. It is for instance what happens when transposons move or when a plant is transformed via A. tumefaciens. Almost all transgenic plants are obtained this way. Illegitimate recombination is the predominant mechanism of recombination in most organisms. Toward increased diversity When using conventional breeding methods, the presence of a significant variability in the plant genome is a necessity.