Reuters reports that the Danish company Aresa Biodetection has developed genetically-modified flowers which change color when their roots come in contact with Nitrogen Dioxide in the soil. Explosives used in mines produce NO2 as the chemicals gradually decay.
Aresa's invention, based on research at the Institute of Molecular Biology at Copenhagen University, uses a plant's normal reaction to turn red or brown when subjected to stressful conditions such as cold or drought, but has genetically coded it to react only to nitrogen-dioxide.
Carefully-restricted field tests begin this year, and actual use could happen within the next couple of years.
Comments (3)
Finally -- a *good* GM idea! ;)
Posted by Justin Mason | January 27, 2004 5:11 PM
Posted on January 27, 2004 17:11
Wow. Just... Wow.
Posted by Taran | January 27, 2004 5:23 PM
Posted on January 27, 2004 17:23
That just give my brain a nasty turn. Anyone else suddenly have this vision of Yellow Submarine-style post-sigularity floral peaceworkers out there making the world safe for children and other living things?
This is the most 21st Century thing I've read yet this year.
Posted by Alex | January 27, 2004 5:31 PM
Posted on January 27, 2004 17:31