Abstract: The invention provides DNA isolated from a plant species of the family Brassicaceae that can be introduced into the genomes of plants to produce genetically-modified plants having higher levels of squalene than the natural plants. The DNA corresponds to squalene epoxidase gene of the same or a related plant, and may have the sequence as shown by SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:3, or SEQ ID NO:5, or a sequence having at least 60% identity with such a sequence. The DNA is introduced into the genome in a way that results in down-regulation of an exogenous plant squalene gene to suppress the expression of squalene epoxidase. The invention also relates to a process of producing genetically-modified plants, plasmids and vectors used in the method, genetically-modified plants and seeds thereof and a method of producing squalene from the modified plants.

Abstract: This invention relates to the modification of plant lipids and seed oils by genetic engineering techniques to produce oilseeds of enhanced commercial value. In one form, the invention relates to a transgenic oilseed plant, or a seed of such plant, having a genome incorporating an expressible yeast SLC1-1 or SLC1 gene. The invention also provides a method of producing a transgenic oilseed plant, which comprises introducing into the genome of the plant an expressible yeast SLC1-1 or SLC1 gene. The invention also relates to various plasmids and vectors used in the method of the invention.