Bionic Plants

Everett Han
Mr. Mathieu
March 17, 2014
Author: Debora Netburn
Published: March 17, 2014
URL:http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-bionic-plants-20140317,0,1010735.story

Summary

Researchers at MIT are currently experimenting on ways to make a super plant. They are doing this by inserting tiny carbon nanotubes into their cell walls. Some of the altered plants have their photosynthesis increased by 30% compared to normal plants. The most difficult part of making a usper plant was inserting the tubes. They thought about watering the plant, but it didn't work because plant roots have a structure that blocks nanotubes from entering. Instead, the researchers decided to turn to the stomata. The researchers found that if they pressurized a solution that included nanoparticles in a syringe, it would enter the plant through the stomata. The next thing they had to do was get the nanotubes into the chloroplasts. They did this by wrapping them in a polymer that sticks to the lipid bubble that surrounds the organelle. The lipid bubble let the nanotubes right in without tearing or leaving a hole where they entered. After the experiment was success, they added nanotubes that can absorb more wavelengths of light to see if the photosynthetic rate increased. It did, but now they need to find out how it worked.

Connection

This article relates mainly to our plant unit because it talks about the rate of photosynthesis and how it can be manipulated to produce more results. Photosynthesis is used by the plant to create sugars out of sunlight and water. The article also talks about chloroplasts which are the main producers of photosynthesis in the plant. Chloroplasts contain pigments that absorb light but cannot absorb the green pigment so it is reflected which is why we see it green in plants. The article also talks about how the stomata takes in carbon-dioxide and releases water. This is an example of transpiration because water is leaving to plant through the stomata.