Abstract

Onyesom, I

Haemoglobin, Hb is the red, protein pigment in blood that transports oxygen round the body. Decreased quantity could lead to anaemia, and when the anaemic condition turns severe, blood transfusion becomes inevitable. However, the safety of human source has become questionable in recent times, and this has aroused the interest of scientists to search for alternative source(s). Interestingly, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, a soil bone, gram-negative bacterium has been discovered to integrate a segment of its Ti plasmid into plant chromosome through wounds. Workers thus, exploited this natural genetic engineering process to transfer Hb gene into plants. Evidence suggests that initial trials recorded some measure of success. Although, the nascent technology is still being refined, when fully developed it would reduce the fear and risk associated with the human source of blood for transfusion.