One of the most successful methods is particle bombardment (or the gene gun) which actually shoots DNA-coated microscopic pellets through a plant cell wall. This biolistic technique of genetic transfer is patented technology and therefore costly to use. Gene integration is also less efficient and less predictable than the Agrobacterium-transformation method used in dicotyledons. Therefore research efforts have continued to reduce the limitation of Agrobacterium-transformation method in cereals and at present this method has been successful in the lab and is expected to increase transformation frequency with a higher consistency of gene expression. "Gene silencing" or the failure of transferred genes to be expressed has also slowed the progress of GE cereals. Several possible causes have been identified for gene silencing however it is far from being fully understood.
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