Using Genetics to fight World Hunger and Global Warming
Definitions
- sequestering: to isolate or hide
- perennial: lasting for a long time; enduring
- proliferation: rapid increase in numbers
- biofuel: fuel derived from living matter
- Arabidopsis: small flowering plants related to cabbage and mustard
Summary
Researchers have found a gene that promotes faster-growing and larger roots, which could lead to plants with a robuster ability to sequester excess atmospheric carbon. Changes to a single gene in a model organism in plant biology, Arabidopsis thaliana, promote faster root growing. This means that more harmful carbon in the air could be absorbed by the plant roots. The carbon helps plants build their roots. In addition, the bigger root systems could help with food shortages by growing crops in warmer and drier climates. There is also benefits for the biofuel industry. Perennial grasses like switchgrass, that are important factors for biofuel, could take hold more quickly. In plants, there is a zone near the tip of the root where stem cells go from proliferation to differentiation into specific tissue types. This is where the cells undergo rapid division and increase in volume. Philip Benfey and his team named the gene that increases root size, UPB1.
Discussion
I think that this discovery is a giant leap for many aspects in the field of biology. It could very well solve many important world issues at the moment. The problem of global warming can be lowered significantly. Also, the problem of world hunger can be fixed. The plants can now grow in dry climates like Africa where starvation is a major predicament. Biofuels are starting to become more prevalent in coming up with a new solution for fossil fuels. These genetically altered grasses can be a major and seemingly endless solution for this problem. Overall, not only was this a leap in biology, but also a possible panacea for major world issues.
Questions
How long will this take for it to be on the public market?
How would modernizing farms affect farmers who cannot afford an upgrade?
Citations
Orcutt, Mike. "Rooting Out CO2: Scientists Isolate a Gene That Boosts Plant Root
Growth." www.scientificamerican.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2010.
<http://www.scientificamerican.com/
article.cfm?id=roots-genetic-engineering-biofuel#comments>.
Discussion
I think that this discovery is a giant leap for many aspects in the field of biology. It could very well solve many important world issues at the moment. The problem of global warming can be lowered significantly. Also, the problem of world hunger can be fixed. The plants can now grow in dry climates like Africa where starvation is a major predicament. Biofuels are starting to become more prevalent in coming up with a new solution for fossil fuels. These genetically altered grasses can be a major and seemingly endless solution for this problem. Overall, not only was this a leap in biology, but also a possible panacea for major world issues.
Questions
How long will this take for it to be on the public market?
How would modernizing farms affect farmers who cannot afford an upgrade?
Citations
Orcutt, Mike. "Rooting Out CO2: Scientists Isolate a Gene That Boosts Plant Root
Growth." www.scientificamerican.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2010.
<http://www.scientificamerican.com/
article.cfm?id=roots-genetic-engineering-biofuel#comments>.
