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[Adventurer]

Last Updated: Thursday, 28 February 2008, 00:41 GMT

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Scientists advance 'drought crop'
By Matt McGrath
BBC News science reporter



For many, a drought means devastation as crops die
Scientists say they have made a key breakthrough in understanding the genes of plants that could lead to crops that can survive in a drought.
Researchers in Finland and the United States say they have discovered a gene that controls the amount of carbon dioxide a plant absorbs.

It also controls the amount of water vapour it releases into the atmosphere.

This information could be important for food production and in regulating climate change.

Water control

Plants play a crucial role in the regulation of the atmosphere by absorbing carbon dioxide from the air. They absorb the gas through tiny pores on their leaves called stomata and these pores also release water vapour as the plant grows.

In extremely dry weather, a plant can lose 95% of its water in this way. It opens the avenue, it is still several years away

Professor Jakko Kangasjarvi

Scientists have been trying to find the gene that controls the response of the stomata for decades.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7268079.stm

[mindmetoo]

Geez here I thought "frankenfood" was supposed to be the doom of us all.