Biotech Updates

Insight Could Help Develop New Crops

December 16, 2011

Researchers at the University of Edinburgh discovered how a tiny algae survives by renewing old or damaged cell proteins. They found that proteins have different renewal rates depending on their function and location in the cells. For instance, proteins involved in photosynthesis have faster renewal rate compared with the others because the cells are at risk of light damage. On the other hand, proteins that protect DNA renew slowly because they are at little risk of damage.

According to Dr. Sarah Martin, author of the study, their findings could help understand how plants are programmed for survival. These results could also help breed crops suited for climates in which weather changes quickly.

Read the original article at http://www.ed.ac.uk/news/all-news/crops-131211.