Ti plasmids are tumor-inducing plasmids found in Agrobacterium tumefaciens that can transfer segments of DNA to plant cells. They range in size from 150-230kbp and contain T-DNA segments and vir genes. Ti plasmids are divided into octopine and nopaline types based on the type of opine synthesized in infected plant cells. Ri plasmids found in Agrobacterium rhizogenes are analogous to Ti plasmids and can also transfer DNA segments to plant cells, making them useful for plant genetic engineering. Several animal viruses can also act as viral vectors to transfer foreign genes to animal cells, including SV40, baculoviruses, retro