GM Tomatoes
Scientist have grown genetically engineered purple tomatoes in an unusual endeavour to promote healthy food. The tomatoes have two genes taken from the snapdragon flower to enable them to express a compound called anthocyanin (the chemical that I used to make pH indicator), the purple pigment found in high levels in fruit such as black berries and cranberries.
Previous research has found that anthocyanins offer protection against certain cancers, cardiovascular and degenerative diseases and may also hinder inflammation, obesity and diabetes. The study published online on Sunday by Nature Biotechnology, a journal of the London-Based Nature Publishing Group.
Researcher Cathie Martin from the John Innes Centre, a biotechnology institute in Norwich, eastern England, said the point behind the purple tomatoes was to boost the healthiness of diets. Most people do not eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, but they can get more benefit from those that they do eat if common fruit and vegetables that are higher in bioactive compounds can be developed.
After creating the purple tomatoes in the lab, the team tested the products on mice that they had engineered to be susceptible to cancer. Mice fed with the high anthocyanin tomatoes showed a significant extension of life span.
Previous research has found that anthocyanins offer protection against certain cancers, cardiovascular and degenerative diseases and may also hinder inflammation, obesity and diabetes. The study published online on Sunday by Nature Biotechnology, a journal of the London-Based Nature Publishing Group.
Researcher Cathie Martin from the John Innes Centre, a biotechnology institute in Norwich, eastern England, said the point behind the purple tomatoes was to boost the healthiness of diets. Most people do not eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, but they can get more benefit from those that they do eat if common fruit and vegetables that are higher in bioactive compounds can be developed.
After creating the purple tomatoes in the lab, the team tested the products on mice that they had engineered to be susceptible to cancer. Mice fed with the high anthocyanin tomatoes showed a significant extension of life span.
0 comments:
Post a Comment