Tag: researchers

MIT Scientists Create GMO Biofuel

A team of researchers from MIT have managed to find a solution for the production of genetically modified biofuel which can be mass distributed in the future, lowering the cost of the biofuel available in the market today. The process of deriving biofuels from plants and bio waste can be lengthy and the fermentation is often tainted by unwanted microbes if not done in completely sterile and secure environment. What makes this discovery so astonishing is the fact that they have managed to grow modified microorganisms and generate biofuel from them quickly and efficiently. Therefore, this method of production vastly lowers the environmental issues involved in the current production of biofuel.

The MIT research team is supported by Novogy, which is a startup company that will take over the patent once the formula is perfected and the product passes the final tests. The scientists managed to create genetically modified microbes that use phosphorus and nitrogen, both essential for the production of biofuel. They are the foundation of this sort of fuel and are crucial for the final product porno.

Biofuel and the benefits

The typical way of creating biofuel includes fermentation and a lot of outside factors that take a lot of time. Therefore, biofuel is very expensive and the majority of population cannot afford it right now. However, this new method of generating biofuel by using genetically modified microorganisms will lower both the price of production and the final product.

The team of researchers at MIT created special strains of microorganisms that are capable of using nitrogen and phosphorous from various sources, such as genetically modified Escherichia coli bacteria that uses melamine in order to produce high levels of nitrogen within itself. They also created Yarrowia lipolytica, a strain of yeast capable of using potassium phosphate to generate phosphorus, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae that has the ability to get nitrogen by breaking down cyanimide into urea. All of these microorganisms are found in nature but their abilities to absorb the chemicals from other sources cannot even come close to these strains created at MIT’s laboratories.

Biofuel is important because it does not emit greenhouse gasses like fossil fuel. Using it regularly would make a huge difference in saving the environment and reducing the pollution. Biofuel is derived from plants and agricultural waste and that process can get a bit costly for the manufacturers. The results are not always satisfactory due to the possible microbes that might invade the process of fermentation. By genetically modifying the strains, scientists are making them more resistant to the microbes and therefore securing the positive outcome.

Novology who is behind this project hopes to make a difference in fuel production and once they test out the process and the efficiency of the genetically modifies biofuel, they plan to license the patent and pass it out to bigger fuel companies who have the ability to mass produce this fuel. It would revolutionize the production and the availability of biofuels to the public, as well as prove the critics how useful genetic engineering can be for improving our daily lives.

Tomato Research Made Easier For Scientists

Tomatoes are one of the most commonly used plants in the process of genetic modification and experimentation. Researchers have been altering them for decades because they have a clear genetic structure so it comes as no surprise that a large number of scientific breakthroughs were made with this plant. However, scientists working at Boyce Thompson Institute managed to speed up the process of gene modification on tomatoes by exactly six weeks, which will make them even more popular for testing.

So how did they manage to do so? Researchers simply stumbled on this discovery while trying to make tomato plants more fertile. The team that was working on this project tried introducing DNA to a tomato in order to create a brand new plant. Auxin which is a hormone that speeds up the growth changed things up and it was responsible for the faster development of this plant. Therefore, the entire process of genetic modification was quicker as well.

Usually, the undertaking lasts for seventeen weeks. The scientists introduce new DNA to the tomato seed by inserting Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The modified cells directly influence the regeneration medium that is in charge of nutrients which are needed for a healthy development of a brand new plant xnxx. The modified plant is kept away from the soil for some time in order to grow roots. They are planted as soon as they are ready.

The new method shortens the length of the rooting process, completing the whole procedure in just eleven weeks. So why is this new approach useful for the researchers? Having in mind that tomato is frequently used for genetic modification, scientists will be able to closely monitor the growth of the plant and observe the changes that happen on both inside and the outside. Additionally, it will reduce the costs of the experiments, save time, and allow them to work on several projects at once.

Also, researchers will be able to test various other modifications and apply them to numerous plants that can solve various global problems, including the widespread of hunger and poverty in the third world countries. We are all aware of the issues that people in those countries face on a daily basis, and having a better understanding of the food production can revolutionize the agriculture all over the globe. There will be no need for financial aid from the developed countries once the steady production begins.

Understanding the DNA of a certain crop is the major step forward in creating crops that can survive harsh environment, and tomatoes are one of the best plants to use for analysis. Speeding up the development process will let scientists have more finances to fund other projects that might upgrade and enhance the food production in the future and ultimately provide us with a complete understanding of the GMO and the way they work. This finding will surely speed up the research that is currently underway at Boyce Thompson Institute and we can expect great things from the scientists that are working there.

Enriched Banana Project

The third world countries have been facing a high rate of deaths that could have been prevented by adding the common vitamin supplements into the diets of those individuals who are in need. However, this is a huge undertaking that requires a lot of funding and donations. It simply cannot be done right now at the scale that is required in order to save lives. However, there are a couple of alternatives for battling this issue and they include genetically modified foods. In this case, that would be bananas.
Bananas are already hailed as one of the healthiest foods on the planet. They are rich in carbohydrates and therefore, they are a great source of energy. Besides that, bananas contain a number of vitamins and minerals such as potassium, vitamin B6 and manganese. All of these are simply essential when it comes to having a healthy metabolism and a strong body. But what if we could improve the levels of the nutrients in bananas and create the ultimate superfood? Well, with the technology we have today, we actually can.
Vitamin A deficiency is a serious problem in undeveloped countries and a group of researchers who were inspired by golden rice that is still feeding millions of people worldwide, providing them with plenty of energy and nutrients, decided to take a closer look at the ways they could genetically modify bananas. They were successful and managed to add higher levels of vitamin A into a standard banana.
The general plan is to try to cultivate this GMO plant in Uganda and the surrounding countries because the climate there will help the plants grow faster. Plus, this would provide an easier access to genetically modified bananas for everyone in need. The levels of vitamin A in a single banana meet the daily needs and that means you will need to eat just one in order to prevent the vitamin deficiency.
On the other hand, scientists who are working on this project are very aware of the possible backlash this banana might receive from those who are afraid of GMO or oppose modifications. They do point out that this is not a true GMO product – they didn’t introduce any foreign DNA to the banana but simply enriched what was already inside. Sure enough, it was produced in a laboratory, but the structure of the fruit remained the same. The only visible difference is in the color of the banana peel – standard bananas are green or yellow, while enriched bananas are a bit orange.
But just like every genetically modified food, the enriched banana simply have to go through testing and need to get the final approval from the FDA. Since these trials take time, it is unlikely that we will get the answer in the next two years. All in all, the researchers who are a driving force behind this project are hoping that they will be able to start planting these bananas by 2020.
If they deliver just a fraction of the golden rice results, the death rate due to vitamin deficiency will greatly decrease. Golden rice has saved millions of lives all around the globe. Enriched banana is a superb idea that might actually work if they get the green light from the authorities who are governing the food safety, production, and distribution.
Enriched bananas have received plenty of support and public seems to be generally interested in this project. The majority of comments are positive and all we need to do right now is wait and see what FDA has to say. It seems like enriched bananas might be the answer we were looking for to solve this serious problem.