Genes behind arsenic in food identified
Scientists at the University of Skövde have analyzed databases with genetic information and identified two genes that may play a major role in the aggregation of arsenic in plants. When the researchers used computers to simulate inhibiting or over-expressing the function of these genes, they managed to reduce the arsenic content in a plant by up to 12 percent.
The research team will soon take their findings into the lab to try to reproduce the results of the computer simulations in reality.
Food that contains arsenic is a major problem above all in Asia. Arsenic is stored in the body and can eventually cause damage to the liver, kidneys, and heart. The poison can also lead to the development of cancer in humans.
Arsenic winds up in food when plants – such as rice – take up the poison from the soil. Grazing animals can also ingest arsenic from plants. When the animals are slaughtered for food, the arsenic is passed on to humans who eat the meat.
In their continued work the Swedish scientists will be collaborating with colleagues in Bangladesh, Poland, and the US. Bangladesh is one of the countries with the greatest prevalence of arsenic in food.
The researchers work at Systems Biology Research Center at the University of Skövde. They are publishing their new findings in Journal of Biological Systems.
The article is published in Journal of Biological Systems Volume: 18, Issue: 1(2010) pp. 223-241, DOI: 10.1142/S0218339010003214
For further information, please contact:
Dan Lundh +46 (0)500 – 44 83 15 dan.lundh@his.se or
Abul Mandal +46 (0)500 – 44 86 08 abul.mandal@his.se
Pressofficer Ulf Nylén, ulf.nylen@his.se; +46-500448 035
Media Contact
More Information:
http://www.vr.seAll latest news from the category: Life Sciences and Chemistry
Articles and reports from the Life Sciences and chemistry area deal with applied and basic research into modern biology, chemistry and human medicine.
Valuable information can be found on a range of life sciences fields including bacteriology, biochemistry, bionics, bioinformatics, biophysics, biotechnology, genetics, geobotany, human biology, marine biology, microbiology, molecular biology, cellular biology, zoology, bioinorganic chemistry, microchemistry and environmental chemistry.
Newest articles
Silicon Carbide Innovation Alliance to drive industrial-scale semiconductor work
Known for its ability to withstand extreme environments and high voltages, silicon carbide (SiC) is a semiconducting material made up of silicon and carbon atoms arranged into crystals that is…
New SPECT/CT technique shows impressive biomarker identification
…offers increased access for prostate cancer patients. A novel SPECT/CT acquisition method can accurately detect radiopharmaceutical biodistribution in a convenient manner for prostate cancer patients, opening the door for more…
How 3D printers can give robots a soft touch
Soft skin coverings and touch sensors have emerged as a promising feature for robots that are both safer and more intuitive for human interaction, but they are expensive and difficult…