What are glow-in-the-dark plants?

Glow-in-the-dark plants are genetically engineered plants that have been modified to contain bioluminescent bacteria. The bioluminescent DNA is introduced using a modified bacteria that inserts the genes into the cells of the plant without hurting the plant.

The DNA sequence required for the bioluminescent gene is created with BioCAD software and then printed using DNA laser printing. Later on, the DNA is inserted using a gene gun. In 1986, the first bioluminescent plant was created at the University of California by artificially inserting the luciferin gene. As of 2014, a working prototype of the glow-in-the-dark plant exists and emits a natural glow and that can pass on the glowing gene. There was a campaign to stop the development of the glowing plant that raised $2,274. A campaign to develop the glow-in-the-dark plant raised $484,013.