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Getting the Most Out of Yo...
Getting the Most Out of Your Animal Feed
After learning about cellulose in early high school, my vegetarian mind often wondered how much more energy I could have potentially obtained if humans had the ability to digest cellulose. Of course, with cellulose being the most common biopolymer on Earth, it seemed inevitable that one day, a scientist with a bold plan would develop a means of digesting...
How Can Beans Beat the Hea...
How Can Beans Beat the Heat?
Personally, I find it hard to be productive outside in summer when temperatures climb to about 100 degrees Fahrenheit. Luckily, I can take refuge in an air-conditioned home, car, or store to save me from the blistering heat. However, so many plants endure the taxing temperature on a daily basis, sitting immotile under the searing sun. The bean plant,...
Removing Arsenic with Gene...
Removing Arsenic with Genetically Modified Plants
Detoxifying soils that are contaminated with arsenic has always been difficult to achieve with human hands and instruments. However, the introduction of genetically modified plants may be able to reduce arsenic levels with much greater ease. The gene of interest comes from the fern Pteris vittata, a plant that is 100 to 1000 times more resistant to...
Psychedelic Maize Yields G...
Psychedelic Maize Yields Groovy Results
Yellow and green streaks seen on the leaves of maize are not just unique; they’re “psychedelic.” The coloring is due to genes that are known as Psychedelic, and these genes may play a role in altering plant yields.  Plants with a yellow- and green-streaked leaf phenotype have a mutation in genes responsible for carbohydrate transport. Researchers...