http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/hacked-photosynthesis-could-boost-crop-yields/
Summary:
Rubisco is one of the most abundant proteins on Earth and is responsible for converting CO2 into sugar for plants. Albeit, abundant, it is very inefficient. Scientists believe that Rubisco from cyanobacterium is faster than the generic Rubisco. They have conducted experiments to compare a control of a normal tobacco plant with natural Rubisco in juxtaposition to that of tobacco with a bacterial Rubisco. However, Bacterial Rubisco is prone to wasting energy by reacting with oxygen in lieu of CO2 (photorespiration-wasteful). These bacteria surmount this issue by creating carboxysomes, structures that sequester Rubisco to create CO2 rich environments to discourage wasteful reactions like photorespiration. Despite this, these artificial plants with bacterial Rubisco produce less Rubisco than normal plants and ergo must be grown in artificially high CO2 concentrated areas.
Reflection:
These discoveries that could culminate in increasing crop yields are great. However, as I read a positive in the article, there was always a negative to accompany. It is always going to be difficult to replicate, let alone ameliorate an ancient natural process that has been evolving such as Rubisco’s primordial functionality. Despite this, I believe in science. Hopefully, these discoveries and tests lead to more progress than just for a commercial-plant like tobacco. I want to see progress in food crops and for all people too, not just the prosperous agricultural industries and farmers that can afford to invest in technology and science. It will take a while though because the cost for this technology and science will only decrease as it is more abundant as that is how business works, but I hope that copiousness is imminent.
Summary:
Rubisco is one of the most abundant proteins on Earth and is responsible for converting CO2 into sugar for plants. Albeit, abundant, it is very inefficient. Scientists believe that Rubisco from cyanobacterium is faster than the generic Rubisco. They have conducted experiments to compare a control of a normal tobacco plant with natural Rubisco in juxtaposition to that of tobacco with a bacterial Rubisco. However, Bacterial Rubisco is prone to wasting energy by reacting with oxygen in lieu of CO2 (photorespiration-wasteful). These bacteria surmount this issue by creating carboxysomes, structures that sequester Rubisco to create CO2 rich environments to discourage wasteful reactions like photorespiration. Despite this, these artificial plants with bacterial Rubisco produce less Rubisco than normal plants and ergo must be grown in artificially high CO2 concentrated areas.
Reflection:
These discoveries that could culminate in increasing crop yields are great. However, as I read a positive in the article, there was always a negative to accompany. It is always going to be difficult to replicate, let alone ameliorate an ancient natural process that has been evolving such as Rubisco’s primordial functionality. Despite this, I believe in science. Hopefully, these discoveries and tests lead to more progress than just for a commercial-plant like tobacco. I want to see progress in food crops and for all people too, not just the prosperous agricultural industries and farmers that can afford to invest in technology and science. It will take a while though because the cost for this technology and science will only decrease as it is more abundant as that is how business works, but I hope that copiousness is imminent.