Through Genetics, Tapping a Tree’s Potential as a Source of Energy
By ANDREW POLLACK
Published: November 20, 2007
It might be true that “only God can make a tree,” as the poet Joyce Kilmer wrote. But genetic engineers can fundamentally redesign them.
Aiming to turn trees into new energy sources, scientists are using a controversial genetic engineering process to change the composition of the wood. A major goal is to reduce the amount of lignin, a chemical compound that interferes with efforts to turn the tree’s cellulose into biofuels like ethanol.
Vincent L. Chiang, co-director of the forest biotechnology group at North Carolina State University, has developed transgenic trees with as little as half the lignin of their natural counterparts. “I think the transgenic tree with low lignin will contribute significantly to energy needs,” he said.
Environmentalists say such work can be risky, because lignin provides trees with structural stiffness and resistance to pests. Even some scientists working on altering wood composition acknowledge that reducing lignin too much could lead to wobbly, vulnerable trees.
“Nature would have selected for lower-lignin trees if they could survive,” said Shawn Mansfield, associate professor of wood science at the University of British Columbia.
More at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/20/science/20tree.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
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I posted this article because I personally had some constraints when genetic engineering officially gave its results. I believe that it is a serious tool in the hands of mankind and should be used wisely. This article gives proof that trying to alleviate our alternative energy sources by reengineering the trees, we may end up changing the structure of all the trees. I think that this is more of a warning rather than real prediction for the future. It shows one of the possible outcomes of the decision tree.
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