Researchers Genetically Modify Common Houseplant To Remove Air of Hazardous Compounds (genengnews.com) 69
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News: Now, researchers at the University of Washington (UW) have genetically modified a common houseplant -- pothos ivy or devil's ivy -- to remove chloroform and benzene from the air around it. The modified plants express a mammalian protein, called 2E1, that transforms these compounds into molecules that the plants can then use to support their own growth. Small molecules like chloroform, which is present in small amounts in chlorinated water, or benzene, which is a component of gasoline, build up in our homes when we shower or boil water, or when we store cars or lawn mowers in attached garages. These compounds are too small to be captured by even HEPA air filters and exposure to each has been linked to cancer. Findings from the new study were published recently in Environmental Science & Technology.
I thought these plants already did this... (Score:2)
No? I thought these plants already did this... Does this protein increase capture and conversion rate?
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Why I thought so..
https://www.google.com/search?... [google.com]
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They likely isolated the genes of interest, clipped the DNA and plugged it into something better suited for the living room.
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Does this plant smell like chloroform to you?
Re:I thought these plants already did this... (Score:5, Funny)
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*SOME* plants remove benzene, though you're right that it does appear that golden pothos ivy is one of the top performers among common houseplants - so I would hope they're seeing a marked improvement to be worth mentioning. On the other hand, I'm not finding much reference to anything removing chloroform naturally.
Re:I thought these plants already did this... (Score:4, Informative)
Researchers Genetically modify venus fly trap to.. (Score:3, Funny)
Human decisions are removed from strategic defense. Audrey begins to learn at a geometric rate. It becomes self-aware 2:14 AM, Eastern time, August 29th.
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But aren't those Triffids lovely to look at...
Warning (Score:3, Funny)
This plant contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
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In California, reproduction itself has been shown to cause reproductive harm.
Genetically Modified Forests (Score:2)
To Remove Air of Hazardous Compounds ? (Score:4, Insightful)
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Please be kind to editors for whom English is not their primary language.
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So? (Score:3)
Re:To Remove Air of Hazardous Compounds ? (Score:4, Insightful)
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I think it removes breathable air for hazardous compounds, so you can get your toxins PURE.
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Do you have to "water" it with gasoline? (Score:3)
If the plants uses those chemicals to grow, does that mean that if your house doesn't have sufficient amount of them you have to water it with gasoline? Or can it live on regular water and non-toxic stuff too?
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This plant already had some existing metabolic process that uses those chemicals. Since the researches just added something - a new protein - without taking anything out my guess is that yes the plant can still live on its "normal" nutrient sources.
That said I would also assume it would be slightly less fit and require a little more inputs than unmodified individuals after all its making a protein it does not need.
Triffids (Score:2)
Could they not have picked a plant with a more innocuous name, "devil's ivy" has an ominous ring as it is, never mind "genetically modified devil's ivy".
Title? (Score:2)
I'm assuming the submitter isn't a native English speaker, but would it be too much for the Editor to convert the title to something that passes for colloquial English?
Doesn't it ... (Score:1)
... remove hazardous components from the air?
Then again if you do have a collection of hazardous things with some CO2 in it possibly also N2? a plant could remove that.
Scams (Score:2)
Sounds great!
Scam advertisements for devil's ivy on Facebook in 3... 2.... 1....