The diaminopimelate (DAP) pathway provides the cell with lysine and with DAP, a vital cell wall constituent. Mutations in the DAP pathway of lysine biosynthesis are lethal for cells exposed to lysine in the absence of DAP. In this paper, the substitution of the dapD gene of Escherichia coli with the kanamycin resistance gene from Tn903 is described and its possible uses are discussed.