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Researchers Genetically Modify Common Houseplant To Remove Air of Hazardous Compounds (genengnews.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the genetically-modified-organisms dept.

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.

27 of 69 comments (clear)

  1. I thought these plants already did this... by sonamchauhan · · Score: 1

    No? I thought these plants already did this... Does this protein increase capture and conversion rate?

    1. Re:I thought these plants already did this... by sonamchauhan · · Score: 1

      Why I thought so..

      https://www.google.com/search?...

    2. Re:I thought these plants already did this... by AHuxley · · Score: 1

      Maybe the new plant is extra removing of chloroform and benzene beyond what a collection of normal "removing" plants can remove.

      --
      Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
    3. Re:I thought these plants already did this... by msauve · · Score: 4, Funny

      Yep. Whoop-de-shit. I haven't been attacked by chloroform since jr high science class, and then it was deliberate.

      --
      "National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
    4. Re:I thought these plants already did this... by Immerman · · Score: 2

      *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.

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      --- Most topics have many sides worth arguing, allow me to take one opposite you.
    5. Re:I thought these plants already did this... by jimtheowl · · Score: 1

      A better guess would be that some plants do it better than others, for example if they evolved in areas with higher concentration of organic gasses.

      They likely isolated the genes of interest, clipped the DNA and plugged it into something better suited for the living room.

    6. Re:I thought these plants already did this... by Scarletdown · · Score: 1

      Does this plant smell like chloroform to you?

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      This space unintentionally left blank.
    7. Re:I thought these plants already did this... by jythie · · Score: 3, Informative

      There are quite a few houseplants that do indeed do this, but there is a bit caveat : they do it in tiny amounts. That is what gets left out of the various 'houseplants that clean the air' articles, they do not mention that you need huge numbers of them to get a measurable decrease in whatever it is they capture. So researchers that put together a plan that removes significant amounts AND only requires a small number of plants is pretty huge.

  2. Researchers Genetically modify venus fly trap to.. by kalieaire · · Score: 3, Funny

    ..rid earth of toxic people.

    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.

  3. Re:Researchers Genetically modify venus fly trap t by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    But aren't those Triffids lovely to look at...

  4. Warning by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    This plant contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

    1. Re:Warning by Applehu+Akbar · · Score: 1

      In California, reproduction itself has been shown to cause reproductive harm.

  5. Genetically Modified Forests by wolfheart111 · · Score: 1

    There's lots of work for tree planters up here in Canada, how about we use trees that will suck up pollutants via genetically modified. :)

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    [($)]
  6. To Remove Air of Hazardous Compounds ? by FilmedInNoir · · Score: 3, Insightful

    *To Remove Hazardous Compounds from Air

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    Sig. Sig. Sputnik
    1. Re:To Remove Air of Hazardous Compounds ? by Walter+White · · Score: 1

      Please be kind to editors for whom English is not their primary language.

    2. Re:To Remove Air of Hazardous Compounds ? by presidenteloco · · Score: 3, Insightful

      or "to rid air of hazardous compounds"

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      Where are we going and why are we in a handbasket?
    3. Re:To Remove Air of Hazardous Compounds ? by Carewolf · · Score: 1

      I think it removes breathable air for hazardous compounds, so you can get your toxins PURE.

  7. Re:Which is the worst *BSD of all? by TheRealQuestor · · Score: 1

    ummm wrong thread there Jackson.

  8. Comment removed by account_deleted · · Score: 1

    Comment removed based on user account deletion

  9. Do you have to "water" it with gasoline? by misnohmer · · Score: 2

    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?

    1. Re:Do you have to "water" it with gasoline? by Gilgaron · · Score: 1

      Plants use atmospheric CO2 as one of their carbon sources, this modification allows them to also incorporate these chemicals into their metabolism. It wouldn't supplant the entire metabolic chain, we're not that good at genetic manipulation.

    2. Re:Do you have to "water" it with gasoline? by DarkOx · · Score: 2

      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.

      --
      Repeal the 17th Amendment TODAY! Also Please Read http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/right-to-read.html
  10. Triffids by LordWabbit2 · · Score: 1

    The day of the Triffids is coming soon. One of favorite books btw.
    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".

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    There are three kinds of falsehood: the first is a 'fib,' the second is a downright lie, and the third is statistics.
  11. Title? by CrimsonAvenger · · Score: 1

    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?

    --

    "I do not agree with what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it"
  12. Doesn't it ... by aliquis · · 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.

  13. Scams by Areyoukiddingme · · Score: 1

    Sounds great!

    Scam advertisements for devil's ivy on Facebook in 3... 2.... 1....

  14. So? by BitztreamNotARealNam · · Score: 2

    How's life in the hypocrite lane?