effort. Due mainly to the efforts of
Catherine Cramer and Gleta Carswell,
we were able to show regeneration of
elite maize protoplasts by 1988. Next
my traditional biochemistry training
helped in developing a novel selection
method for PPT resistance using a pH
indicator. We were able to use it to
select transformed colonies arising
from maize protoplasts and thus regener-
ate a transformed maize plant. The pH
indicator method was used by Martha
Wright and her team to obtain what
eventually became event 176.When I moved to AgrEvo to build and
manage a group to do regulatory
studies I moved from research to devel-
opment. This opportunity gave me the
chance to get to know crop plants in
the real world. My role increasingly
became one of technical expert in the
testing field and dealing with outside
laboratories and agencies. My present
work involves establishing and main-
taining contacts with a multitude of sti-
mulating people on a daily basis. I get
to use the skills and knowledge I have
learnt along the way, including the
quantitative approach to analysis,which means I have in a way come
full circle.
Overall I can say I have enjoyed most of
the journey. I still retain my links with
the tissue culture community, as this is
the basis of modern agricultural biotech-
nology. I have been fortunate to have the
company, advice and mentoring of
many people as mentioned above,
including those who were authorities in
their field. I have been lucky enough to
follow and grow with a technology
from its inception through to its
implementation in agriculture, and have
got a great deal of enjoyment out of it.
I will leave it to others to judge my
contribution.
As to where this discipline and plant bio-
technology is headed; we are gradually
overcoming misinformation and miscon-
ceptions. I hope that we can be allowed
to use the technology to benefit those
who need it most, without over-restric-
tive regulation; where delivery of critical
traits to small subsistence farmers in a
safe form of seed which is easily used
is a daily occurrence rather than a
dream. However, this will take time,
maybe too much time for some.References
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