The purpose of gene transfer varies. For some of these (tomatoes), the purpose is to prevent rotting; in others (beans, corn, cotton) it is to strengthen resistance to the effects of herbicides; and in others (corn, potatoes) it is to increase resistance to insects.
以上基因轉殖作物的目的，有的是使其不易腐爛（蕃茄），有的是讓作物不受除草劑的影響（大豆、玉米、棉花），有的目的在抗蟲（玉米、馬鈴薯）。