There are many ways to grow food but can yield many times over to meet the needs of people around the world. And it seems from a study found that human genes can increase crop yields by up to 50%.
According to studies conducted by researchers at the University of Chicago, Peking University and Guizhou University, they found that adding human genes to plants can increase yields by 50%.
Researchers say this means that instead of just planting more crops, existing crops will be more efficient and able to produce more and can help address problems such as poverty and food shortages.
The use of human genes doesn’t mean that we make plants more “humane”, rather that researchers use human genes that produce the FTO enzyme to help plants grow better.
Enzymes in humans eliminate certain markers that regulate the production of proteins associated with cell growth, and it has been found that they can achieve similar effects on plants, thus helping them grow better.
The result is a crop that grows with an additional 50% of the mass that also produces 50% more rice. The roots of the plant also grow longer, their photosynthesis is more effective, and it has also been shown to be more resistant to drought.
"This is a very exciting technology and has the potential to help tackle poverty and food insecurity on a global scale - and also potentially useful in responding to climate change." said University of Chicago Nobel Prize in Economics Michael Kremer
