Genetically Engineered Microbes - GEMS - Genetically engineered microbes (GEMs) are microorganisms into which a gene or genes have been introduced using recombinant DNA technology. GEMs can be tailored to fulfil specific needs and perform functions, which their natural counterparts can never perform.GEMs

(i) are capable of producing pharmaceutically useful proteins, and enhanced, modified or new metabolites,
(ii) can be used for crop protection by control of insects (e.g., Clavibacter containing B. thuringiensis cry gene), fungal diseases (e.g., Pseudomonas expressing chitinases gene from Serratia), frost damage (ice mutants of Pseudomonas fluorescens and Pseudomonas syringae; ice gene product acts as the nucleus for ice crystal formation at low temperatures), etc.;