Tobacco+you+want+to+grow

Science Daily.com March 6, 2010 Researchers from St. George's University of London Centre for Infection think they might have found a health use for tobacco. They have genetically engineered a strain of tobacco that has antibodies for microcystin-LR (MC-LR), a toxin that disrupts the cell control process. The Antibodies are taken from the tobacco’s leaves and are flushed out from the roots; the antibodies will then attach to the microcystin-LR rendering it harmless. "We hope that our study will ultimately lead to a reduction in the exposure of humans, livestock, and wildlife to environmental pollutants," said Pascal M.W. Drake, Ph.D. This process could clean lots of water making it safe to drink, swim in, and fish in. This would allow for cheaper cleaning of water all around the world. This genetically engineered strain could replace the normal tobacco and be twice as affective as it cleanse the water and produces tobacco. Even with its great new characteristics this tobacco is dangerous to smoke. Tobacco may start to be grown for health reason, but only if that tobacco stays in the field.

Evan Carter March 10, 2010