Maize event MON88017 was produced by A. tumefaciens-mediated transformation of immature embryos with the PV-ZMIR39 plasmid. The genetic modification in MON88017 is a dual trait introduced by the transfer of the following genes derived from bacterial sources:

• the synthetic cry3Bb1 gene which is the coding sequence for a close variant of the Cry3Bb1 protein, derived from Bacillus thuringiensis, that provides protection against certain coleopteran target pests belonging to the genus Diabrotica such as the larvae of Western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera), Northern corn rootworm (Diabrotica barberi), Southern corn rootworm (Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi) and Mexican corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera zea),

• the cp4-epsps gene which is the coding sequence for the native CP4 EPSPS protein, derived from Agrobacterium sp. strain CP4, an enzyme that confers tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate.

Detailed molecular and genetic analyses of MON88017 indicate that the transferred genes are stably integrated into the plant genome as single linked copies at the same insertion site and are inherited in subsequent generations according to predicted patterns of inheritance. No other parts of the plasmid used for transformation are present in the transformed plant.