It has become much better: genetics inserted the rabbit gene into a houseplant

Genetics never tire of surprising the world, crossing the most unexpected species of animals with each other and even connecting animals with plants. Recently, scientists presented to the world the results of another genetic experiment, during which the rabbit gene was inserted into the genome of a popular houseplant in order to improve it.

As the basis of this scientific experiment, a plant called epipremnum golden (lat. Epipremnum aureum). In the wild, this liana is found on the islands of French Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean, but the golden epipremnum is so decorative and unpretentious in maintenance that it quickly became popular in indoor floriculture. Today, this vine can be found as a houseplant in many countries of the world. As NASA experts managed to find out, this type of epipremnum is not only beautiful, but also effectively copes with air purification from benzene and chloroform. Benzene is a dangerous carcinogen that enters the environment as a result of anthropogenic pollution. The main sources of this substance are transport and industrial enterprises, and in large cities this substance is often present in atmospheric air and in residential air. But chloroform is not so common under normal conditions, but it is also a dangerous poisonous substance.

As part of the Clean Air project, scientists investigated all kinds of plants that are able to clean the air and improve its quality in the conditions of orbital stations. Epipremnum Golden showed very good results in air purification from such dangerous pollutants as benzene and chloroform. But this did not seem to scientists, they decided to bring the plant's abilities to perfection.

It turns out that in the body of some mammals there is a special gene called P450 2e1, which is responsible for the production of an enzyme that promotes the breakdown of certain aggressive chemicals that enter the body. One of the variants of this gene was removed from the rabbit and placed in the genome of the golden epipremnum. As expected, experts from the University of Washington, such a procedure had a beneficial effect on the ability of the plant.

Genetically modified plants were placed in closed chambers, in the air of which benzene and chloroform were contained. It turned out that the new version of the epipremnum with the rabbit gene breaks down benzene molecules 4.7 times faster than its natural version. Over 8 days, the concentration of benzene in the experimental chamber fell by 75%, and chloroform almost disappeared only 6 days after the start of the experiment.