5 ms·
Fixing photosynthesis by engineering it to recycle a toxic mistake
- fiddlerwoaroof 8y agoThe issue I have with this sort of bioengineering is that it assumes we understand the processes well enough to identify real mistakes. The “byproduct” could be a key component for the long-term survival of the plant.
- gus_massa 8y agoWikipedia has more details about the posible use of the secondary reaction. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photorespiration#Possible_purpose_of_photorespiration https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photorespiration#Possible_purp... For me none of these reasons are convincing It looks like an opportunistic use by the plant of the byproducts and effects.
- jessriedel 8y agoWhat do you mean by long-term survival? These modified tobacco plants have been grown in outdoor agricultural conditions for (I believe) multiple generations. Do you worry something is being left in the soil?
- jessriedel 8y agoMain HN discussion of this topic is on the NPR coverage: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18822182 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=18822182