A method for distinguishing and sorting seeds containing a genetic element of interest from a bulk sample. In various embodiments, the present invention comprises associating a marker with at least some of the seeds containing a genetic element of interest of the bulk sample, exciting the seeds using an photonic emitting device, evaluating at least some of the seeds of the bulk sample for the presence or absence of the marker, and sorting the seeds containing a genetic element of interest based on the presence or absence of the marker. In various other embodiments, the method may comprise associating a red fluorescent protein marker with at least some of the seeds containing a genetic element of interest of the bulk sample, evaluating at least some of the seeds of the bulk sample for the presence of the red fluorescent protein marker using an evaluating device, and sorting the seeds containing a genetic element of interest based on the presence of the red fluorescent protein marker. In some embodiments, the red fluorescent protein marker is discernable when excited by a certain energy and the evaluating step comprises exciting the seeds containing a genetic element of interest with the certain energy and detecting an emission resulting at least in part from the exciting step.