Abstract: General biology experiment has the characteristics of strong practicality and maneuverability, and it plays an important role in the cultivation of biology professionals. In order to discipline and cultivate students′ experimental operation ability, innovative consciousness and innovative ability in experimental teaching and improve the teaching quality of general biology for biology major in local colleges and universities, the author introduced virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) technology, a hot topic in current biology research, into teaching experiments. Through this experimental teaching, students′ interests are obviously improved, their independent working ability and innovative thinking ability are cultivated, so that students can initially form a certain scientific research ability and innovative ability.

Key words: general biology, virus-induced gene silencing, experiment teaching, innovative ability