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Transgenic Mustard Cleans Up Soils
Roland Piquepaille writes "Researchers have genetically modified a common plant, the Indian mustard, to absorb more selenium, a toxic heavy metal found in soils polluted by irrigation wastewater. The transgenic plants were four times more efficient at swallowing selenium than natural ones in a contaminated area of California's Central Valley, according to articles from Nature and Wired News. These field tests are only experiments, but the researchers also want to add genes to other plants to remove different toxic materials from soils, such as mercury. What would happen if such transgenic plants filled with dangerous chemicals start to crossbreed with natural ones? Or if an insect eats these plants before being eaten itself in the natural food chain, leading to some selenium in our food? Read more and tell me what you think."
From Wikipedia (no less)
:)
"It is discovered that selenium, an ingredient in some Head & Shoulders shampoos, is as poisonous to the alien life-forms as arsenic is to humans."
Just wanted to clear that up
"I don't think there's any time for lubrication"
"THERE'S ALWAYS TIME FOR LUBRICATION!"
Hmm. Maybe better to develop a plant to remove Roland Piquepaille blog advertisements from slashdot...
How long until they can get plants that will suck up gold/platinum/silver or other precious metals?
Fly me to the moon Let me sing among those stars Let me see what spring is like On jupiter and mars
What would happen if such transgenic plants filled with dangerous chemicals start to crossbreed with natural ones?
Well of course we'd sue the natural plants for infringing the patents on this gene. Duh! Do we biotech IP lawyers have to explain everything to you guys?
What if you learned how to spell "Bees"?
That sounds like a vegetarian argument. Why not just genetically engineer yourself to absorb sunlight or connect your ass to a wall socket?
How we know is more important than what we know.