Posted on 04/28/2020 8:55:33 AM PDT by BenLurkin
By inserting DNA obtained from the mushroom, the scientists were able to create plants that glow much brighter than previously possible.
This biological light can be used by scientists for observing the inner workings of plants. In contrast to other commonly used forms of bioluminescence, such as from fireflies, unique chemical reagents are not necessary for sustaining mushroom bioluminescence. Plants containing the mushroom DNA glow continuously throughout their lifecycle, from seedling to maturity.
The new discovery can also be used for practical and aesthetic purposes, most notably for creating glowing flowers and other ornamental plants. And while replacing street lights with glowing trees may prove fantastical, the plants produce a pleasant green aura that emanates from their living energy.
Designing new biological features is more complex than merely moving genetic parts from one organism to another, however. Like gears in a watch, the newly added parts must metabolically integrate within the host. For most organisms, the parts needed for bioluminescence are not all known. Until recently, a complete part list was available only for bacterial bioluminescence. But past attempts to create glowing plants from these parts have not gone well, largely because bacterial parts typically do not work properly in more complex organisms.
Little more than a year ago, scientists uncovered the parts that sustain bioluminescence in mushrooms. For the first time, the living light of an advanced multicellular organism was fully defined. In the present report, the authors disclose that mushroom bioluminescence works particularly well in plants. This allowed them to make glowing plants that are at least ten-fold brighter. Using ordinary cameras and smartphones, green illumination was recorded coming from leaves, stems, roots, and flowers. Moreover, the sustained light production was achieved without harming the health of the plants.
(Excerpt) Read more at phys.org ...
Just kinda have to let your eyes adjust....
If they succeed in engineering plants that generate light
how long will it take for some RINO Congressman to ban them?
Think of the investors in existing lighting companies! Oh the horror!
You’ll never see them grow in Michigan since the Governor won’t allow ya’ll to buy seeds...
Super - flora-based night lights coming...right next to the Chia pet displays.
One side makes you darker, and one side makes you glow..
ROFL.
And after the meal, it helps illuminate the outhouse at night.
So we don’t need to put the plant under the table lamp but ditch the lamp and just click on the plant?
I realize that’s not what the article is talking about, but that was my first mental image...working by the light of my plant. LOL!
Give me some. I’ll let the house plants shine and I’ll save on my electric bill.
I hope so;. That digestion leaves the photoemissive chemicals intact. Light to read by.
And the ones that Mother gives you don't change the lumen flow...
Nice job!
Funny you mention “off world.”
As I was reading the article, I was thinking of the absolutely spectacular CGI night in the jungle scene from James Cameron’s movie “Pandora.” On the big screen is fine; not sure about having it ultimately show up in the local home & garden center.
For some reason, I have this funny feeling that the epitaph on Humanities tombstone will be:
“Better is the enemy of good enough, indeed.”
Told my boss at the time that I was rooting for the humans. She looked at me like I just bit the head off a kitten.
Bah - if those blue alien hippies were so peaceful, how did they already know how to fight? How did they know to put on war paint and chuck spears?
“And after the meal, it helps illuminate the outhouse at night.”
“Hey honey! C’mere! You gotta see THIS!”
Driven mad by their lust for “unobtainium,” there is no act too dastardly for those evil humans! Heh, heh, heh.
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