American Chemical Society's Weekly PressPac -- Au...(.org/cgi-bin/sample.cgi/crtoec/asap/html...)
.org/cgi-bin/sample.cgi/crtoec/asap/html/tx7001959.html
Min Wu, Ph.D.
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, North Dakota 58202
Phone: 701-777-3610
Fax: 701-777-2331
Email: minwu@medicine.nodak.edu
Julia Xiaojun Zhao, Ph.D.
Phone: 701-777-3610
Fax: 701-777-2331
Email: jzhao@chem.und.edu
ARTICLE #3 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Explosive discovery on genetically engineered tobacco plant
Environmental Science & Technology
Tobacco may be bad for human health, but a new study reports that a genetically engineered tobacco plant may be very good for the environment. It shows promise for cleaning up soil contaminated with TNT, a widely used military explosive. The study is scheduled for the Aug. 15 issue of ACS Environmental Science & Technology, a semi-monthly journal.
Neil C. Bruce and colleagues noted that TNT contamination is a major environmental problem at many World War II sites, military training areas, and explosive manufacturing sites. In addition to being explosive, TNT is toxic and a human health threat. Researchers knew that certain soil bacteria could metabolize and change trinitrotoluene (TNT) into nontoxic compounds. But those natural bacteria exist at levels too low to detoxify TNT.
In the new study, researchers inserted a gene for a TNT-transforming bacterial enzyme into a tobacco plant. Then they tested the plants effect on TNT-contaminated soil in comparison to regular tobacco plants grown in the same soil for several weeks. The genetically modified plants significantly reduced the toxicity of the TNT-contaminated soil.
This is the first report to demonstrate that transgenic plants engineered for the phytoremediation of organic pollutants can increase the functional and genetic diversity of the bacterial community
'/>"/>
| Contact: Michael Woods m_woods@acs.org 202-872-4400 American Chemical Society Source:Eurekalert |
Related biology news :
1. First North American Encapsulated Islet Transplant without Long-term Immune Suppression into a Patient with Type 1 Diabetes
2. Health costs soar as 60 million Americans classed as obese
3. Discovery of an American salamander where it shouldnt be: Korea
4. DNA traces evolution of extinct sabertooths and the American cheetah-like cat
5. North & South American researchers find architectural abnormalities in T. cruzi ribosome
6. T-rays: New imaging technology spotlighted by American Chemical Society
7. New peptide antibiotic isolated from American oyster
8. Computers to save unique type of American red squirrel
9. Alcoholism, smoking and genetics among Plains American Indians
10. Gene variation increases SIDS risk in African Americans
11. Americans support free access to research
| Copyright © 2003-2009 Bio-Medicine. All rights reserved. ABOUT | CONTACT US | DISCLAIMER | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS AND CONDITIONS |  |