Cell-Growth-Cycle Studies in Cancer Research Spawns Technology for Increasing Biofuel Crop Yields

Studies aimed at slowing down the growth of tumor cells have sparked an idea to utilize a reverse technique for extending the growth cycle in plants. This technique could be eventually harnessed for research into increasing crop yields in biofuel crops like canola, soya and corn.

Targeted Growth Incorporated (TGI), a company which licenses the technology from the Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, uses techniques for manipulating the genetic code of the plant, so that the cells continue dividing “past the ordinary stopping point”. This was shown to result in increased seed size and seed count, with as much as 20% increase in crop yield. A booming biofuels market has led the company to invest in the technology for helping the United States meet the biofuel crop demands in an efficient and sustainable manner”.