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...

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...

Many of us have heard that soybeans are being used for an increasing number of products these days, especially with the rise of vegans and vegetarians in America, but how many of us know what makes soy special? At Purdue, they understand that soy serves a number of purposes that will only increase in...

Growing up as the son of two Pakistani immigrants, I was fortunate enough to be able to sample delectable Pakistani cuisine on an almost daily basis throughout my childhood. As almost any South Asian will tell you, Daal, or a variety of lentils, is considered a staple that is eaten with almost every...

When a pathogen reproduces, it synthesizes both essential and non-essential molecules.  Genes important for the production of molecules that are not as important can easily be mutated without much difference to the function or survival of the pathogen. However, genes important for the production of...

Every week while researching the latest news in plant research, I notice an abundance of articles pertaining to genetic modification.  Whether scientists have sequenced a particular plant’s genome or discovered a gene regulator, such as the riboswitches we discussed last week, genetic modification...

In my Spanish class recently we learned the future tense. In an attempt to keep things interesting, the topics covered by the future tense chapter were space travel and genetic engineering. We discussed the consequences of creating babies “a la carte”, and for our final assignment we had to write...

About a month ago, just before getting into my car to head to work, I noticed that my shiny black car had taken on a completely new color without ever having visited the paint shop.  As I quickly swiped my finger across the trunk, the culprit for this sudden color change was identified – pollen! ...

America has long embraced the wide use and consumption of genetically modified or GM foods in daily life. But now, there seems to be a new buzz in the air about using the benefits of genetically modifying trees to increase the rate of growth in the United State’s southeastern forests. A proposition...

Fish oil is known to be one of the healthiest ways to obtain omega-3 fatty acids. DHA and EPA, two of the most studied omega-3-fatty acids, have numerous health benefits; they decrease triglycerides, blood pressure, atherosclerosis, and heart rate. Essentially, they decrease the adverse effects of low...

Last week, we discussed genetically modified squash plants that have become more susceptible to bacterial infection because of their modification to resist viral infections; conversely, a report by Andrew Pollack of The New York Times uncovers another case where genetic modification of plants may actually...

At Georgia State University, microbiologist George Pierce has pioneered a new method to preserve freshness in produce and flowers. The method utilizes naturally occurring “soil microorganisms,” which are known to be beneficial to plants in the same way that probiotics in yogurt are to people. Climacteric...

Genetically modified plants are usually engineered to benefit a plant species that would benefit us. However, scientists are now discovering that these modified plants might avoid one adversity just to encounter another. Squash plants that have been modified to resist viral diseases are now more susceptible...

In the wild, what we think of as spices are actually a key component to a plant’s defense mechanism. Now, Dr. Murray Isman of the University of British Columbia recently published a study on these organic pesticides that has produced fruitful results. The research has shown that common household spices,...

Whether consuming green vegetables raw or cooked, these colorful plants provide us with many essential nutrients. I have always heard, “The greener the vegetable, the better the nutritional value,” but scientists from The University of Nottingham are presently conducting research that could possibly...

While organically-grown food is nothing new to human societies, the increase in public awareness of organic food over the last several years has caused an explosion in the demand for such food with its reduced use of chemical additives, hormones, pesticides, and genetic modification. Organic food companies...

In June we read about a revolutionary new technique for creating genetically modified plants without the use of external DNA. The article (http://www.greenseedling.com/2009/06/17/new-method-of-gene-modification/) illustrated the research done with “zinc finger” nucleases. The nucleases allow genes...

Part of why I love writing these articles is because it leads me to discover cutting edge, revolutionary research that will help solve global problems in the future. Research into genetically modified crops have followed a specific trend: improving yield, nutrient content and protecting crops from climatic,...

In a world full of worry over food scarcity, energy shortages, and fading non-renewable resources, plant biologists continue to bring us hope. This time that hope comes in the form of salt-tolerant crops. A team of researchers, let by professor Mark Tester at the University of Adelaide’s Waite...

When I first learned about modifying genes in my high school biology class I found it a fascinating, yet scary concept. Learning about how DNA works allowed researchers to develop a method of inserting foreign DNA into organisms, a potential solution to many genetic problems. I remember when we inserted...

Two of the most harmful diseases that plague rice across the world are caused by bacteria. The first disease, bacterial blight, can reduce yield by 50%, and the other, though not as damaging as bacterial blight, can cause bacterial leaf streak. However, bacterial leaf streak is becoming more prominent...

Two of the most common ways to minimize pests in crop fields are spraying insecticides and the use of Bt-toxin plants. Bt-toxin plants are plants that contain genes from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (hence the “Bt”). The genes from Bt, when inserted in a plant, produce a toxin that kills...

Nowadays, people want the cleanest, healthiest, most natural substances around themselves. Media focuses on recyclable goods and companies advertise themselves with pride on helping the environment. Parents don’t want to expose their children to chemicals, this can be seen through the cleaning supplies...