Negative connotations about tobacco are prevalent in many cultures across the world. However, upon closer examination, we may become a bit more willing to accept tobacco plants into our lives – but not in the way you might expect.

Tobacco holds a notorious reputation for giving people health problems across the world when smoked or dipped, but the plant itself may prove helpful to us by facilitating the cleaning of our environment.
Strains of tobacco that were genetically modified with the addition of an antibody to microcystin-LR (MC-LR) lowered levels of MC-LR toxins in ponds. More commonly referred to as toxic pond scum, MC-LR can make fishing, swimming, and drinking deleterious to human health.  The modified plant produces MC-LR antibody in its leaves before releasing the antibody into the ground below. The antibody is allowed to run-off into MC-LR contaminated water. The antibodies bind to MC-LR particles, negating the toxicity of the MC-LR molecule.

Although MC-LR poisoning is much more commonplace in developing countries, this new strain of tobacco plants could help prevent MC-LR toxicity in multitude of water sources across the globe.

Discussion Question: Do you think this transgenic approach could be utilized in other plants to help lower MC-LR toxicity?
News Article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/03/100301091550.htm
Scientific Abstract: http://www.fasebj.org/cgi/content/abstract/24/3/882