Marisa Patel
Published: March 4, 2014
Author: J. M. McGrath
URL: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/03/140304113536.htm
Summary:
Professor Stephen Long from University of Illinois led a study to test if adding a higher concentration of carbon dioxide in plant leaves could increase the photosynthesis efficiency. The team took genes from cyanobacteria to test on a computer model identical to plants, to see the effect on photosynthesis. They chose to use cyanobacteria because it containes carboxysomes which contain carbon dioxide. After the test, the team concluded that the carboxysomes, both, worked and did not work to enhance photosynthesis. It enhanced photosynthesis in crops such as soybean, rice, and cassava. They calculated that by adding 8 times the amount of carboxysomes could result in 60% more photosynthesis. By knowing the mechanisms for modeling photosynthesis, it helps to know which manipulations cause fruitful results, rather than wasting time and money on experiments that could fail. Professor Long admitted that it could take around 5 years for the experimentation to result in a model plant, and about 15 to 20 years for a live crop plant. He also said that these types of experiments are very crucial to the market because the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization said there will be a 70% percent growth in the crop business, so any innovation regarding crops is very useful.
Connection:
This connects to the Plant Diversity unit because we are learning how plants need to take advantage of as much photosynthesis as possible, because it is there main nutrition source besides roots. We also learned how carbon dioxide in the air is necessary in the process of photosynthesis, so therefore it is necessary for plants to be able to have a high amount of carbon dioxide in able to promote as much photosynthesis as possible. We also learned about the process of Photosynthesis and Cell Respiration in the past units, and that unit connects to this article because the team is studying ways to improve the frequency of photosynthesis.
How did the carbonxysomes not work in increasing the rate of photosynthesis?
ReplyDeleteAre there any other experiments that showed signs of enhancement in photosynthesis?
ReplyDeleteIf they were to add more carbonxysomes to the plants would they see a greater increase in photosynthesis?
ReplyDeleteTo answer why the carbonxysomes sometimes did not work, sometimes it depends on the plants that are being tested. As I said, crops such as soybeans and rice effectively increased the rate of photosynthesis. But, on the other hand, some plants such as certain conifers, are in a very contrasting environment. Therefore, it depends on the surrounding conditions and the plant itself.
ReplyDelete