Genetically Modified Tobacco Plants Turn Red Around Land Mines

Now, here’s a case where genetic modification is actually a good thing: scientists have developed a tobacco plant that turns red when it detects nitrogen oxide leaks from landmines. It takes about ten weeks for the plants to change color. The plants will also help researchers determine whether an area has been successfully cleared.

From Mail Online:

The tobacco plants has been chosen because it is hardy, easy to grow and has wider leaves.

UN and landmine clearance groups are watching the tests with interest.

Aresa chief executive Steen Thaarup said: ‘This could be an efficient and economic way of clearing mines.

‘There is irony in using tobacco for this – it could end up saving lives for once.’

Becky Maynard at the No More Landmines charity in London, which raises funds to clear mines, said the plants would be a useful tool but communities would still rely on engineers to physically remove them.

There an estimated 80million landmines buried worldwide, covering 120,000 square miles.

Awesome. Natural solutions for manmade problems FTW! This could keep tobacco farmers in business even if they wanted to stop fueling the cigarette death machine, which is another plus.

Link [Mail Online]
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

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