The intended effect of the genetic modification is to confer tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate [N-phosphonomethyl glycine], which is the active ingredient in Roundup®. Resistance is conferred by the introduction of the enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSPS) derived from Agrobacterium sp. strain CP4 into sugar beet. Glyphosate functions as a herbicide by inhibiting the endogenous EPSPS enzyme, which catalyzes a reaction necessary for the synthesis of aromatic amino acids. The EPSPS enzyme derived from Agrobacterium sp. strain CP4 that is introduced by the H7-1 transformation event has reduced affinity for glyphosate as compared with the native plant EPSPS enzyme. Therefore, the presence of the new enzyme in plant tissues prevents deleterious effects of glyphosate on aromatic amino acid synthesis in this transgenic sugar beet variety.