Researchers Grow Insulin In Tobacco Plants
August 12, 2007 by Kendra James, RN
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
Get a load of this research. I would file this study under the category of “seriously, is this for real”? A group of US researchers have discovered that insulin grown in plants can resolve diabetes in mice. Huh?
Daniell’s research team genetically engineered tobacco plants with the insulin gene and then administered freeze-dried plant cells to five-week-old diabetic mice as a powder for eight weeks. By the end of the study, the scientists found the diabetic mice had normal blood and urine sugar levels, and their cells were producing normal levels of insulin.
Did they seriously choose to use tobacco plants to carry out the research? Yes, it seems they did. But in hindsight, at least I would assume, Professor Daniell has suggested the possibility of using lettuce plants instead. I think that would be a great idea indeed!
via Science Daily
Yes, yes yes – for some reason I have this nagging feeling that growing insulin in lettuce rather than tobacco is the better choice, haha. I wonder why they initially chose tobacco plants?
I have no idea, and I couldn’t find a definitive reason anywhere in the research that was outlined. But it was humorous to me as well. Lettuce gets my vote! Thanks Alicia! Your thoughts are always appreciated!
Kendra