A project has recently been proposed in order to provide a more environmentally friendly way of using light. In this case, as published by the New York Times, a group of biotechnological scientists want to develop plants that glow in order to produce a light-source alternative of streetlamps. This process will be carried out through synthetic biology by not professional, but hobbyist scientists. Derived from splicing the genes of glowing jellyfish, results will find whether or not synthetic biology can be improved or advanced at this time of age.
As many labs have become readily available because of the decreasing costs of biotechnology, these hobbyists have begun to create their own 'do it yourself' projects. A similar project has already been conducted in efforts to create glowing tobacco plants. However, the tobacco plant's glow was so dim that it was deemed ineffective. Critics of these projects have predicted an accidental and potentially harmful spreading of these genetically engineered plants and their seeds. However, members of the project, such as Antony Evans, have promised safe activity during the project.
NOS Themes:
Science is collaborative; multiple hobbyist scientists from all over the country have come together in communal laboratories to figure out whether or not it's possible to develop glowing plants.
Science is subject to debate and tentative; despite previous efforts by other scientists to splice glowing genes into animals and plants, it is still tentative as to if glowing plants can indeed replace electric streetlight.
Role of motivation and curiosity; hobbyists are eager to find out an effective way for a more environmentally friendly world.
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/08/business/energy-environment/a-dream-of-glowing-trees-is-assailed-for-gene-tinkering.html?ref=science&_r=0
Adrianna Tan Hour 3
I found this blog made by the people attempting to make these glowing plants.
ReplyDeletehttp://glowingplant.com/
It's interesting that people are conducting experiments and blogging about it. I think it's cool that these people are attempting to make more efficient light sources as a hobby.
This sounds like a really cool idea and a potentially very helpful one. I found from this article: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2321865/Glow-dark-plants-developed-replace-street-lamps.html, that people are not only using jellyfish genes but also genes from fireflies and glowworms.
ReplyDeleteI thought this was a really interesting topic that could work, but some people disapprove of it. Environmentalists are demanding it be withdrawn because they think it's disturbing nature. Here's the article I read: http://blogs.wsj.com/tech-europe/2013/05/07/glow-in-the-dark-plant-makes-activists-see-red/
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like the researchers are pretty far from being able to make streetlamp-trees, but it would be amazing if electric light could eventually be replaced with glowing plants. It would conserve energy and add oxygen to the atmosphere at the same time.
ReplyDeleteI also read the article about the activists who were opposed to these seeds being released, but I fail to see how the plants could be harmful. If the only gene that's been modified is the one that makes the plants glow, it won't give them any kind of advantage over natural plants, and may actually increase their chances of being eaten.