According to a briefing issued at the 5th International Conference on Metallothionein held recently in Beijing, Chinese scientists have developed genetically modified plants able to treat the soil and water contaminated by heavy metals.
A key protein lab under Peking University?痵 Institute of Life Sciences has rolled out genetically modified tobacco and blue algae. The two GM plants can absorb or get rid of heavy metals in soil or water, including cadmium, mercury, lead, and nickel. They are especially good for fending off contaminations on paddy rice, ginseng, medical herbs, and tealeaves that are asked to comply with the international standards for export. They can also be used to treat wastewaters from urban industrial source, mines and electroplating. In addition, the plants can grow to beatify urban streets, and curb up environmental pollutions. Having completed the lab phase, the project will soon head for a diffusion phase. It is explained that a kilo of genetically modified blue algae can absorb more than 10 grams of mercury.
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