Texas A&M genetically modifies cotton to make it edible

Houston Chronicle ^ | November 20, 2006 | Randolph E. Schmid

[Zakeet]

WASHINGTON — Cotton, for thousands of years one of the most important crops for clothing and shelter, might also become a source of food.

A chemical called gossypol makes cottonseed inedible for humans, though some of it is used in feed for cattle, which are less affected by the toxin.

Now, researchers at Texas A&M University have genetically modified cotton to produce seeds with little or no gossypol.

It's a step they say could help provide valuable protein to millions of people. Their findings are reported in Tuesday's issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Keerti Rathore of the university's Institute for Plant Genomics and Biotechnology, said the modified plants continue to have gossypol in their stems and leaves where it helps resist insects, but the chemical is significantly reduced in the seed.

Worldwide, 44 million tons of cottonseed is produced annually. It is grown in 80 countries and the seeds are 23 percent protein, Rathore said.

They are pressed for oil, and in the United States about half of the remaining meal goes into animal feed, he explained.

[Zakeet]

This from the same bunch that spent millions to develop a maroon carrot.

[Brilliant]

You can eat cotton already. You just can't digest it.

[dforest]

Gives a new meaning to "cotton mouth"

[Hegemony Cricket]

Mmm mmmm mmm. Tastes just like...



CANDY!

[Brilliant]

You can eat cotton already. You just can't digest it. Of course, they don't agree.

[goldstategop]

Cotton is cheap and plentiful. We could finally conquer world hunger.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." -Manuel II Paleologus

[WOSG]

Aggies doing science? I'll eat my shorts!

[Liberty Tree Surgeon]

Millions? Can you site a source?

[fishtank]

Gig 'Em Aggies.

Class of '84.

[Jaded]

Reminds me of a scene from Elf.

[TomGuy]

People have been eating cotton candy for years.

[Lazamataz]

We could finally conquer world hunger.

I don't want to conquer world hunger.

We're already too fat.

[rabidralph]

Whooooo! Until we run into that starving country that worships the cotton plant and is enraged at the thought of eating it.

[Kozak]

New meaning to cotton candy....

[weegee]

Cotton candy?

[Dallas59]

Socks and Underwear Casserole....Yuck

[LonePalm]

Are you sure that wasn't a moron carrot?

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Monsanto, of course, will patent this and eventually be able to charge royalties from all cotton growers after its seed stock contaminates all the cotton seed in the world.

[Stone Mountain]

EAT MY SHORTS!

[TomGuy]

Aggies. God love 'em.