ScienceDaily: Biotechnology News |
- How plants sense low oxygen levels to survive flooding
- Complexities of DNA repair discovered
- Breakthrough in the production of flood-tolerant crops
- A protein shows plants the oxygen concentration of their surroundings
- The cannabis genome: How hemp got high
| How plants sense low oxygen levels to survive flooding Posted: 23 Oct 2011 10:57 AM PDT Scientists have discovered how plants sense low oxygen levels to survive flooding. The finding could lead eventually to the production of high-yielding, flood-tolerant crops, benefiting farmers, markets and consumers everywhere. The researchers identified a molecular mechanism that controls key plant proteins, causing the proteins to be unstable when oxygen levels are normal, and stable when roots/shoots are flooded and oxygen levels drop.  |
| Complexities of DNA repair discovered Posted: 23 Oct 2011 10:56 AM PDT Scientists have discovered that DNA repair in cancer cells is not a one-way street as previously believed.  |
| Breakthrough in the production of flood-tolerant crops Posted: 23 Oct 2011 10:56 AM PDT Across the globe agricultural production is at risk as catastrophic flooding becomes a world-wide problem. Prolonged flooding drastically reduces yields by cutting off the supply of oxygen crops need to survive. Now experts have identified the molecular mechanism plants use to sense low oxygen levels. The discovery could lead, eventually, to the production of high-yielding, flood-tolerant crops, benefiting farmers, markets and consumers across the globe.  |
| A protein shows plants the oxygen concentration of their surroundings Posted: 23 Oct 2011 10:56 AM PDT Plants need water to grow, but every hobby gardener knows that you shouldn't carry this to excess either. During waterlogging or flooding, plants can't take up enough oxygen that they urgently need for their cellular respiration and energy production. Plants respond to this state of hypoxia with the activation of certain genes that help them cope with the stress. Until now it was unclear how plants are sensing the oxygen concentration. Recent experiments show that under hypoxia a protein that can activate genes, a so-called transcription factor, is released from the cell membrane to accumulate in the nucleus and trigger the expression of stress response genes.  |
| The cannabis genome: How hemp got high Posted: 19 Oct 2011 11:44 PM PDT Throughout history, Cannabis sativa has been exploited by humanity. Hemp seed oil is rich in omega 6, and its fiber is used in the production of fabrics. Marijuana is known for its mind-altering properties. The changes to the genome that led to drug-producing plants is a mystery of cannabis evolution, but one that has now been solved, thanks to new research.  |
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