Wednesday, December 8, 2010
How Plants Near Chernobyl Shrug Off Radiation
Scientists are reporting the discovery of the biological secrets that enable plants that are growing near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant to adapt to highly radioactive soil. Colleagues note that plants have an unexpected ability to adapt to an environment contaminated with radiation. Their previous research showed that soybean plants in the area have adapted to the contaminated soil with certain changes in their proteome. A proteome is the full complement of proteins produced by the genes in a plant/animal. Radiation exposure had relatively little effect on the protein levels in the plants with only about 5% of the proteins altered.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
If we eat the soybeans does the radiation affect us? And do you know if they're planning on planting these sorts of plants in Chernobyl to maybe help with the affects? Because if they aren't it would be a swell idea.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kelly, have they done any research towards whether or not we take in radiation if we were to consume or come in contact with one of these plants?
ReplyDeleteI agree with Kelly also. It doesnt seem like theyve done enough research on the soybeans
ReplyDeleteThat is interesting, but like Kelly said, would the soybeans affect us if we eat them? Or as more generations of the plants grow, will the radiation level decrease until is is virtually clean and safe again?
ReplyDeleteOOOOH wait I kind of misunderstood this...I thought they were planting plants at other nuclear plants but they're planting them around Chernobyl. My bad. Disregard the second half of my first comment.
ReplyDelete