Researchers Find a Way to Give Plants "Meaty" Nutrients

     Plants Now Have "Meaty" Nutrients:

    Our body needs certain vitamins and nutrients to keep it powered. In meat we can get so many more benefits, than just eating plants and veggies. Recently, in the month of February researches have been working on a study to take some of those same benefits found in meat and give them to plants. It is said in the article, "This might one day let vegetarians and vegans rely on plants for the full range of nutrients their bodies need." In order to get the animal-type nutrients, the plant leaves need certain enzymes that they don't typically have. Enzymes are proteins that typically speed up chemical reactions inside living things. The team made up multiple sets of genetic instructors and each different set had a different combination of amino acids and nutrients that they can make. The treated leaves gave two kinds of animal-type nutrients with one being creatine and the other created was carnosine. 

    It is just incredible what technology we have today, and the vast things we can accomplish. I knew plants don't have as many nutrients and benefits as eating meat, but I didn't know we could inject plant leaves, and boom, they now have similar/same benefits. There are a lot of individuals that are vegans or vegetarians like mentioned in the article who just eat plants and not meat. Meat is crucial in our diet and they aren't getting the same benefits. It is a game changer that they can still participate in what they believe in and now get more nutrients you wouldn't be able to receive before. 

Sources:

https://www.snexplores.org/article/plants-make-meat-nutrients-vegetarian

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10408398.2023.2241541#abstract

Maize Plant Genetics Shape Root Health and Growth

Rodielon Putol, an Earth.com staff writer, writes that maize genetics plays an important role in determining the health and efficiency of plant roots. There is a connection between the genetic makeup of maize plants and the composition of microorganisms surrounding their roots. The roots are an important for of plants because they are their lifelines. Roots anchor an enable nutrient & water absorption. They also have a tiny microbial layer that is vital for plant health. The microorganisms are crucial for the health and fitness of plants. This research takes a Segway from the original belief that only soil influences the root microbiome. It shoes that maize genetics are equally important in determining which microorganisms surround the roots. 

Since maize has been cultivated through selective breeding in diverse climates over centuries, researchers decided they would harness its genetic diversity. Specific genes were studied to see how the plant interacts with bacteria which could enhance the plant’s resilience to environmental challenges. Massilia bacteria was found around maize roots that helped improve nutrient and water absorption. We can use the findings in this study to breed maize to be more resilient when it comes to droughts and food shortages. This plant is known to be a big food sources for the locals and it would be greatly beneficial to genetically modify them be resilient to certain bacteria. We can develop tougher maize varieties which can also lead to significant advancements towards sustainable agriculture. I’m glad that we are finding ways of making maize plants last longer in their life spans as it will help feed a lot of people who depend on it as their food source. 

Main Article: https://www.earth.com/news/maize-plant-genetics-shape-root-health-and-growth/

2nd link: https://www.nature.com/articles/35098524 

Elemental Bacteria Size Discovered

The measurable size of nutrients needed for a cell to thrive and divide has been discovered. Divisional function of bacteria is triggered once it reaches a certain size and is in response to the general growth law. It is important to understand that bacteria grow faster and bigger when the quality of nutrients available to them is better. Extensive research on the significance of the growth law has been preformed, using the model organism Escherichia coli. The discoveries began with noticing the cell size remained constant when cells began to replicate their genetic material. This unchanged cell size is a representation of the fundamental unit of cellular resources needed in order to start growth and the cell cycle. The growth inhibition experiments that were carried out were given in part to thorough cell sampling of large populations of bacteria.  The quantitative aspects of biology are shaping the field and promising much greater things for the future in research.

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