With the dramatic developments and the rapid jumps in the field of genetic engineering that we must rein to our imagination to visualize what will be the future of our children, and even the near future, but this is not fiction, where scientists have succeeded in the production of colored cotton, were produced as well as the fruit of melon square shape, half of the production of apricot fruit and the other half peach; Along the same lines in the near future they will be Cultivate plastics.
Of course, this is not a literal sense, but it will be a secondary result of the cultivation of some crops such as corn and soybeans, a Team of researchers from the Purdue University has managed Gene cloning of a plant known as the laboratory, called Arabidopsis, this gene produces the enzyme responsible for urged to plant conservation and storage of components that can be used as raw materials for the production of plastic, and With the addition of this gene to the genome of some crops, this plants will be able to produce and storage of those components without affecting the health of the plants.
It is known that the oil industry is the basis for almost all types of plastic, but the plants will be added this gene will have the capability to manufacture new types of the most distinctive characteristics in terms of intensity or flexibility compared to the types of plastics made from petroleum.
The plastic we use is currently produced through a complex series of compounds derived from petroleum (polymers), also known as single molecules, consisting of those chains (monomers), and even now, impedes the production of various types of plastic and a limited number of components that can work Monomers in oil, but the plant will be solve the problem; where scientists will be able to produce an enormous amount of different components that can be used in the production of many types of plastic and advanced features not available with the current types of plastic.
Plants are consider as chemical Factories which are stunning result of the tremendous number of chemicals, and the plant has a system for the production and storage of large quantities of these compounds, which are used to protect itself from insects, disease and ultraviolet radiation, and the production of such components through the production of some molecules to form stable and solubility of these compounds, and is stored in a small organ within the cell called vacuoles, the vacuoles of the separation of those compounds produced by the biochemical processes occurring within the plant.
By taking advantage of this system and through genetics genomics can identify the gene responsible for the production of components required for the production of certain types of plastic, and the use of biotechnology could be the introduction of this gene to the genome of crop plants; that is responsible for the production of composite plants required.
Using the gene was discovered through this research could be urged to plant conservation and storage of this compound and, therefore, can be extracted and used in the manufacture of new types of plastics. However, the real problem that still faces researchers is how to make plant to produce huge quantities of these components; so that the production of plastic which can be implemented economically. Although the limited resources of oil and non-renewable source, it is still less expensive to Monomers plastic.
On the other hand, the research team is trying to urge the same types of engineered microbes, and genetically engineered to produce Monomers; where bacteria are currently trying to use is called "E. coli" Monomers for the production of a type of plastic used in carpet yarn, in addition to other uses, but that is the most appropriate plants for the production of plastic Monomers in economic terms.
It is expected in the near future with the start of production of these advanced types of plastic that the distinctive characteristics opens new avenues for the use of plastic were not uncharted territory, as it may find appropriate types of plastics for the manufacture of some of the things that did not suit the current types of plastics, such as artificial hearts and valves. In any case, we are waiting to see what we bring to us, or genetic engineering