Saturday, January 10, 2009

Roger N. Beachy - Modified rice may resist disesase


Creve Coeur — Researchers at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center say they have discovered how to genetically modify rice to make it more resistant to a disease that is ravaging Asian rice farms. "The breakthrough came when we understood how the virus made the plant sick," said Roger N. Beachy, president of the center. "Then we used that information against the virus." The technology is viable in the greenhouse and in the laboratory, Beachy said. The next step is to test it in the field. Click to read an informative article by Georgina Gustin, St. Louis Post-Dispatch-MO 01/10/2009