How to make a rose from blue genes

For two centuries scientists have striven to produce a blue rose. Through cross-breeding, flower growers have produced roses in a wide range of colours from the common red, white and yellow to more exotic hues such as salmon, orange and scarlet. But a true blue rose has so far eluded them.

'The nearest anyone has come using traditional plant breeding methods is a sort of pale lilac,' says Tim Holton, principal research scientist of Australian biotechnology company Calgene Pacific.

Researchers were forced to turn to hi-tech methods when...