Published: Fri, Oct. 19, 2007 12:00AM

Modified Fri, Oct. 19, 2007 06:26AM

tool name

Old technology's flaw

Researchers rely on two basic approaches when inserting new genes into a cell.

Both are sophisticated but suffer from a basic problem: Scientists are never sure exactly where a gene is going to land when they place it inside the nucleus of a cell.

The problem exists because the new genes must attach themselves to an existing chromosome -- a "host chromosome" -- inside the cell nucleus.

Sometimes, a chromosome will act as the host and accept a new gene. Sometimes it won't.

Even when the new gene finds a home on a host chromosome, the process can produce unexpected results.

But using the knowledge picked up from the study of the mutant arabidopsis, Copenhaver and Preuss get around those problems by building a self-contained chromosome in the lab.

When that chromosome -- along with its new stack of genes -- is inserted into the cell's nucleus, it becomes a part of the plant. It does not require a host chromosome, making its behavior far more predictable.

"It's really a beautiful technology," said George Arida, a venture capitalist who has provided startup money to Chromatin.

But Arida is thinking about a bigger payoff than altering crops. If chromosomes can be inserted into corn, why couldn't they grow cotton that creates a better fabric or plants that can be used in pharmaceuticals?

"It has all kinds of potential market applications," Arida said.

That hardly guarantees Chromatin's success.

Monsanto must still determine whether thousands of plants growing outside will reproduce in the same way a single plant does in a greenhouse.

Resisting altered crops

And opposition to any sort of genetically altered crop is almost certain.

Golden Rice, for example, was introduced with great fanfare more than seven years ago as a fortified food to help the starving. It has yet to be distributed.

Copenhaver isn't sure how long it will be before Chromatin's technology is fully commercialized. The company's lab in Chicago is working with Monsanto to produce specific genes for corn. Monsanto plans to field-test the crops in locations around the country or even the world.

When Copenhaver is needed in Chicago, he flies back on weekends. Preuss, now a professor at the University of Chicago, has taken a year of unpaid leave to serve as company president.

Sometimes, they can even be found in a lab.

It's a world with which they are fully acquainted.