Glowing plant hits the US market
Plant lovers in the United States will soon be able to buy glowing petunias (Petunia hybrida).
The $29 US plant, sold by biotech firm Light Bio, contains genes from a bioluminescent mushroom (Neonothopanus nambi).
Because this type of petunia is not native to North America and is not considered an invasive species, the chances of the modified genes spreading should be minimal – says the company.
This is a “groundbreaking event”, says plant biologist Diego Orzáez. He suggests that having “something people can touch and bring home” could even help people to be less scared of genetic engineering.
Do you think genetic engineering should be taken this lightly and that plants that glow should be sent home to teach kids about how “cool” genetic engineering is? We should be teaching kids about protecting the diversity of plant life, and help them celebrate people who plant forests, and who save apple varieties across the United States.
We should be teaching them about the farming heroes like Vernon Hugh Bowman who stood up against Monsanto and other seed genetics companies who try to get a world monopoly on engineered seeds that don’t reproduce after they fruit.
.The $29 US plant, sold by biotech firm Light Bio, contains genes from a bioluminescent mushroom (Neonothopanus nambi).){kind=link}