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A plant that glows when thirsty

Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 9:09 am
by Ouchyfish
A plant that glows when thirsty

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Some people like to talk to their plants. Now, students at Singapore Polytechnic say they have created a plant that can communicate with people -- by glowing when it needs water.
The students said Tuesday that they have genetically modified a plant using a green fluorescent marker gene from jellyfish, so that it "lights up" when it is stressed as a result of dehydration.

The light is hard to detect with the naked eye but can be seen using an optical sensor developed in collaboration with students at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University.

The development of such plants could help farmers to develop more efficient irrigation of crops.

Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 10:00 am
by kaharthemad
need to make one that shouts "HEY MOTHERFUCKER I AM THIRTSY BITCH"

Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 10:02 am
by Jimmy Durante
That's incredible. I wonder if they could do something similar with infants.

Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 10:18 am
by Ouchyfish
:rofl:

Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 3:56 pm
by Tuggan
great, hopefully the seeds are all fucked up too and we can screw the ecosystem up even more when this mutant plant spreads its seed.

Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 4:20 pm
by Martrae
I actually agree with Tuggan on this. Why do people feel that changing things is always better?

Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 4:52 pm
by Jimmy Durante
I take it you're not looking forward to the day you can step out of your house to fetch the mail and be promptly slain by Ents?

Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 5:00 pm
by Martrae
Not really :)

Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2006 5:09 pm
by Harrison
It would add some needed excitement to a boring U.S. life.