AU: The botanist, the chemist, and the painkilling lettuce
Inside each plant’s leaves and seeds, a secret has been carefully tucked away.
These plants have been coaxed, using careful genetic manipulation, into growing painkillers and anti-cancer drugs.
The team behind them hope these "biofactories" could be cultivated in developing nations or remote communities, providing a cheap and plentiful source of powerful edible drugs.
“That dream is now possible,” says Professor Marilyn Anderson. “We can now get plants to make whatever we want.”
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