There is nothing about our approach to enhancing gene targeting that is specific to Drosophila or nematodes - double-strand breaks stimulate recombination in their vicinity in all organisms where this has been tested. The challenge in applying the zinc-finger nuclease technology to other organisms and situations will be to find good methods for delivering the nucleases and the donor DNA, so that they are optimally effective.
We have collaborated on applications to the plant, Arabidopsis thaliana [Lloyd, A. et al. PNAS 102: 2232-2237 (2005)]. We have an ongoing collaboration to extend the ZFN approach to the zebrafish. Other labs have succeeded in cultured mammalian and plant cells (see the list of ZFN references in the Background section).
