Soybean transformation event GU262 has been genetically engineered to express two <br> copies of the synthetic pat gene isolated from a soil bacterium Streptomyces<br> viridochromogenes that results in the expression of an enzyme phosphinothricin acetyl<br> transferase (PAT), which confers resistance to glufosinate herbicide.  In addition the<br> glufosinate resistant soybean transformation event GU262 also contains partial copies of<br> the bacterial selection marker gene bla that is not expressed.   <br> The soybean transformation event GU262 has been transformed with a vector<br> pB2/35SAcK (has the same backbone structure derived from pUC plasmids) that has <br> only two functional genes, viz the phosphinothricin acetyl transferase pat, and bla<br> coding for ampicillin resistance via the enzyme  -lactamase.  Only the pat is fully intact<br> and functional in the plants whereas the bla gene is not.  The pat gene is under the<br> influence of 35S cauliflower mosaic virus promoter and terminator. Glufosinate resistant soybean transformation event GU262 is significantly similar to the<br> antecedent organisms described in the AgrEvo petition 96-068-01p except that it was<br> developed by a new transformation event using the same biolistic particle bombardment<br> technique.  GU262 is tolerant to the herbicide glufosinate and exhibits the identical<br> agronomic characteristics as the antecedent organisms.  <br> GU262 contains broken bla gene which is not expressed and all the regulatory<br> sequences used to express the pat gene come from the cauliflower mosaic virus, a well<br> known plant pest.  The vector used for transformation also has the same backbone<br> drawn from pUC family of vectors.  In addition, GU262 contains two copies of the pat<br> gene where as the antecedent organisms had 1-5 copies of the same.   There is no gus<br> gene in GU262.