Chapter 18, Problem 7P

Fish and other organisms that live in the Arctic express an antifreeze protein that prevents subzero temperatures from damaging their cells. Scientists have generated transgenic strawberries and tomatoes that express the fish antifreeze protein. However, neither crop has been commercialized.

a.	Explain the steps involved in generating the transgenic crop plants. What enables these plants to make a fish protein?
b.	The reason neither crop is on the market is that the antifreeze protein did not produce the desired effect: protection of the fruits from damage in a freeze. Provide a possible hypothesis explaining why the fish antifreeze protein might not work in plants.