Abstract: This paper briefly reviewed the advances in research on tissue culture and genetic transformation of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) at home and abroad. Various factors such as selection of explants，meristem culture，callus induction，shoot regeneration，root regeneration and transplanting were emphatically analyzed. It also summarizes two genetic transformation methods (Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and particle bombardment) in the application of transgenic bean. The in vitro regeneration and genetic transformation of common bean highly genotype dependent. So how to establish a protocol for in vitro regeneration of common bean that could be genotype independent will be the research emphases in future.