Scientists advance 'drought crop' (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Matt McGrath
BBC News science reporter

Scientists say they have made a key breakthrough in understanding the genes of plants that could lead to crops that can survive in a drought.

Researchers in Finland and the United States say they have discovered a gene that controls the amount of carbon dioxide a plant absorbs.

It also controls the amount of water vapour it releases into the atmosphere.

This information could be important for food production and in regulating climate change.

Water control

Plants play a crucial role in the regulation of the atmosphere by absorbing carbon dioxide from the air. They absorb the gas through tiny pores on their leaves called stomata and these pores also release water vapour as the plant grows.
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more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7268079.stm

[Zachstar]

1. I just hope this does not lead to modified plants.

I happen to believe that THIS sadly is the main path to end of humanity.

For the longest time farmers have experimented with breeding and cross breeding to gain good results. It was natural. Not this modification crap.

Will it take some crop having a screwed up gene from our meddling causing great illness before people realize this is wrong?