richard@oresoft.com (Richard Johnson) (08/04/90)
I remember a year or so ago there was an announcement about bioluminous tobacco made from spicing in the genes of fireflies. I think is was RJ Reynolds that actually did it but am unsure. Anyway, is anyone pursuing the technology? Naturally luminous landscaping could be useful and marketable. E-mail or followups OK. Richard Johnson
jarvi@plains.UUCP (Trent Jarvi) (08/05/90)
In article <1990Aug3.215755.13431@oresoft.com> richard@oresoft.com (Richard Johnson) writes: >I remember a year or so ago there was an announcement about >bioluminous tobacco made from spicing in the genes of fireflies. >I think is was RJ Reynolds that actually did it but am unsure. >Anyway, is anyone pursuing the technology? Naturally luminous >landscaping could be useful and marketable. E-mail or followups OK. >Richard Johnson I dont think you would be impressed with the 'glowing plants' depicted in the research article. I dont recall the reference (Biotech/nology?) but I seem to recall that the picture was taken by 'feeding' the plant ATP and exposing the plant to the film (ie place the plant on the film and let it sit their for an hour). So, as you look at the picture and try to imagine what an acre or two would look like.. just picture a dark room :) The purpose was only a means of selection, not a marketable product Exposing a plant to photographic film is a lot cheaper that other techniques requiring radioisotopes. I guess it boils down to the boiluminous tobacco was *neato*. End of Story(.) I am bullish on transformed produce in the not to distant future. Immagine food that does not require pesticides/herbies, is slow to decompose, and is always nutritionally balanced. Those are just a few things, off the top of my block, that people are currently working on. Im sure you have heard of the strawberries that 'dont' freeze, the tomatoes that are *really* red and soft in the winter, ... These are not dreams any more. Of course getting them to the market is another story... (((((((( Trent Jarvi ||UUCP : !uunet!plains!jarvi|| Fargo, ND )))))))) (((((((( North Dakota||BITNET : jarvi@plains.bitnet|| 58105 )))))))) (((((((( State Univ. ||INTERNET:jarvi@plains.NoDak.edu||701-237-8448 ))))))))
kpc00@JUTS.ccc.amdahl.com (kpc) (08/05/90)
In article <1990Aug3.215755.13431@oresoft.com> richard@oresoft.com (Richard Johnson) writes: I remember a year or so ago there was an announcement about bioluminous tobacco made from spicing in the genes of fireflies. Are the genes for living things this similar? I realize that the question invites a variety of answers since it's got no definition for "similar". Could we make a glow-mouse? -- Neither representing any company nor, necessarily, myself.