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Genetically Modified Flower Detects Landmines

cdneng2 writes "Yahoo has the story that a Danish company has developed a plant that can detect landmines. The genetically modified weed that has been coded to change color when its roots come in contact with nitrogen-dioxide (NO2) evaporating from explosives buried in soil." The company website has a bit more information.

5 of 518 comments (clear)

  1. Good Idea by Grey_14 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    This is the kinda thing Genetic Engineering and Modification should be going into, not for Cheaper prices in the supermarket, or Glowing fish,
    Lets see more food in starving country's, Less Landmines, and other ways to improve life,

    Of course, thats whats been said about just about any new or improved technology in the last what, 30 years?

    1. Re:Good Idea by donutello · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Cheaper prices in the supermarket are usually the result of greater production and lower cost to produce so the same stuff that brings you cheaper prices in the supermarket is what you need to have more food in starving countries.

      GM is a tool. Like almost any other tool you can use it for good, evil or something frivolous.

      What next? You want legislation saying that computers should only be used to educate low-income students and not for playing games?

      --
      Mmmm.. Donuts
  2. Re:What Happens by glesga_kiss · · Score: 4, Insightful
    When the kids of 3 world countries run out into the fields to pick the flowers??

    They grow up hating the country that made the landmines? Sounds all too familiar.

  3. Re:What Happens by cduffy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    to stop cross contamination

    You mean "to prevent unauthorized use", right?

    Preventing cross-contamination is just a handy side effect.

  4. Re:What Happens by Guppy06 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "Any kid growing up in a country where landmines are a problem is probably very likely to listen to the nice soldiers"

    Any kid growing up in a country where landmines are a problem probably has at least one friend their own age short a few limbs.