Re: Radiation and VFTs

Steven Klitzing (stevek@informix.com)
Thu, 17 Nov 94 08:47:31 -0800

If you consider gene-splicing, there might be one way to narrow down
how you find the genes that produce traps, digestive juices, sticky
leaves, and so on. I'm not a gene expert, and don't pretend to be.

For example, compare the DNA of dissimilar plants with similar
features, to figure out the DNA of the mechanisms they have in
common.

You could compare DNA of mimosa and DNA of VFT's, and look for the
stuff that causes turgor, or water pressure moving plant leaves.
That would at least tell you which DNA causes plant movement.

You could compare Papaya to Nepenthes and Sarracenia, and see
which DNA group causes digestive enzymes.

Anyway, I'm sure there's a way to narrow down the work. It would
be fascinating to do. Two kids in the Bay Area recently found the
DNA marker that caused some horrible disease or something. So,
if High School kids could do it (mind you, bright high school kids),
I'm sure there's a way for CP enthusiasts to do it.

I keep thinking of the movie "the fly". Since it's possible to splice
a pig gene into a tomato, it might be possible to splice a CP gene
into a human. Imagine going to sleep during the summer, and killing
the mosquitos that land on you while you sleep. You know, a bunch
of VFT traps strategically placed on your body. Of course, that
might make you susceptible to disease if you smoke a cigarette and
get mosaic on you.

---Steve