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Mining Metals Using Plants and Trees?
elroySF writes "An MIT Technology Review article says "...Scientists reported Monday that they have bioengineered a plant capable of absorbing arsenic from soil and sequenced the complete set of genes for a microbe that can remove heavy metals from water." It goes on to say "...Some scientists even see the day when trees and grasses will be used to mine metals and minerals without disturbing the soil."
" We had a story about this a while back.
Can you imagine you walk into an arsenic mine that looks like a peach orchard and decide to sample the goods?
"Money doesn't grow on trees!"
Now I can finally reply, Some of them got GOLD leaves!!!
I only look human.
My mother is a halfling and my dad is an ogre, so that makes me an Ogreling
It's the choice of an old and tired generation!
Chew on this!
Feeling down? Don't stick around! Genetically Engineered Arsenic Tobacco - Jack Kervorkian Chew!
oh I forgot...
2. ???
3. Profit!
. . . or you'll end up like Stan here:
l
http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_683401.htm
The first group of researchers added a gene from the E. coli bacteria and one from soybeans to make Arabidopsis thaliana, a distant relative of cabbage, develop its taste for arsenic.... The plant efficiently pumps arsenic from the soil and stores it in its leaves, where it can be easily harvested and disposed of.
Oh, sure, as if cabbage didn't taste bad enough already....
My mother in law likes coleslaw...