Why study plants? (photosynthetic organisms)

1. Primary producers of bio-usable energy

2. Immortal (cellular level)

3. Used for food, shelter, natural products (medicines), and biofuel

4. Source of some important scientific discoveries

"The greatest service which can be rendered any country is to add a useful plant to its culture..." Thomas Jefferson

The Green Revolution

• ~1950 – present

• Prevented the Great Famines that were forecast for the last half of the century

• Increased grain yields 500-1000%

• Increased global carrying capacity

• May have saved ~1,000,000,000 people

1914-2009

By 1963, Mexico was a net exporter of wheat.- Also had success in India and Pakistan.

Can Biotechnology:

1. Increase, or keep, yields up and production down?2. Bring the green revolution to the rest of the world?

Adoption of GM crops is slow.

Greenpeace protest in Thailand

Attacking Monsanto

Institute for Responsible Technology

“I know of no documented cases of GM crops doing anything that they weren’t designed to do” (D. Herrin).

The Greening of Pharma & Energy

• Plants are being used to make cheap vaccines, and soon, “Pharma” factories.

• Increasing importance of renewable energy from plants (Biofuels)– Bioethanol (from biomass (cellulose))– Biodiesel (oil from plants and algae)

Overall Scheme for Production of Bioethanol from Plant Cellulose

Photosynthesis

E 85/15

http://genomicsgtl.energy.gov/biofuels/index.shtml

Plant Biomass for Cellulosic Bioethanol