Spring is in the air—birds are chirping, the weather is warming, and as the proverb goes, ‘April showers bring May flowers.’ Although it can sometimes be dreary, rain in the spring is really important for plants as they start to grow, and without water, they wouldn’t survive! Seeds of annual plants, like Helianthus annuus—also known […]
April Showers Bring May (Sun)Flowers Read More »
Pull out your cauldrons and put on your witch hats, it’s time for some science-based sorcery! Just in time for Halloween, you can pick up some delicious Magic Potion tea from David’s Tea. This whimsical tea blend contains a special ingredient which makes it change from deep blue to purple with a couple drops of
How to Brew Your Own Magic Potion (and Learn Some Chemistry on the Side) Read More »
Currently, there are close to two hundred coronavirus vaccine candidates in development, 42 of which have entered clinical trials. Out of these 42 candidates, one is unique: it is the only one to be produced in a plant. The Quebec City-based biopharmaceutical company, Medicago, has harnessed the speed and efficiency of plants to produce a
A Virus-Like COVID-19 Vaccine is Being Grown in Tobacco Plants Read More »
Beneficial bacteria lower soil pH by releasing gluconic acid to suppress host plant immune responses Plant roots are constantly interacting with various species of microbes which have varying degrees of impact on plant growth. The rhizosphere, known as the zone immediately surrounding plant roots is mostly home to harmless microbes, but some are pathogenic and
Dropping Acid: A Bacterial Tactic to Evade Detection and Boost Plant Growth Read More »
With the rise of easy methods for creating and administering transgenes, there has been an exponential increase in genetically modified organisms. From crops which resist disease and tolerate drought, to viruses designed to deliver gene therapies to treat genetic disorders, scientists continue to push the boundaries of genetic manipulation. Recently published in Nature, Chin et
The Future is Bright: Creating Fluorescent Petunias with Marine-Derived Genes Read More »