Editing Expression vector (section)

===Transgenic plant and animals===

In recent years, expression vectors have been used to introduce specific genes into plants and animals to produce [[transgenic]] organisms, for example in [[agriculture]] it is used to produce [[transgenic plants]]. Expression vectors have been used to introduce a [[vitamin A]] precursor, [[beta-carotene]], into rice plants. This product is called [[golden rice]]. This process has also been used to introduce a gene into plants that produces an [[insecticide]], called [[Bacillus thuringiensis|Bacillus thuringiensis toxin]] or [[Bacillus thuringiensis|Bt toxin]] which reduces the need for farmers to apply insecticides since it is produced by the modified organism. In addition expression vectors are used to extend the ripeness of tomatoes by altering the plant so that it produces less of the chemical that causes the tomatoes to rot.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bionetonline.org/english/content/ff_cont3.htm |title=bionetonline.org |access-date=2010-06-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100617043538/http://www.bionetonline.org/english/content/ff_cont3.htm |archive-date=2010-06-17 }}</ref> There have been [[Genetically modified food controversies|controversies]] over using expression vectors to modify crops due to the fact that there might be unknown health risks, possibilities of companies patenting certain [[genetically modified food]] crops, and ethical concerns. Nevertheless, this technique is still being used and heavily researched.

[[Transgenic animals]] have also been produced to study animal biochemical processes and human diseases, or used to produce pharmaceuticals and other proteins. They may also be engineered to have advantageous or useful traits. [[Green fluorescent protein]] is sometimes used as tags which results in animal that can fluoresce, and this have been exploited commercially to produce the fluorescent [[GloFish]].