Simplifying Lignin

Biology is not all about altering genes. Gene tinkering to make a new product is engineering. It uses research to achieve its goal. Many people think of this as being science. Biology is the study of life. Its focus is to understand what is going on. Manipulating life is not the purpose. Biology as all science "when it comes down to it . . . is just trying to quantify the complications of the puzzle" to quote Wit.

The research covered in this episode compares the lignin synthesis pathway in Arabidopsis to that in Lycophyta. Arabidopsis is the main plant used in genetic research. It is a flowering plant. Lycophyta and the flowering plants diverged before plants started making seeds. They have very different reproductive strategies.

Most genetic research is conducted on plants perceived to be economically important. A lot of times scientists have to solicit funding based on what financial advantage will be gained and not on the pure knowledge that will be learned. This study of the genetics of the Lycophyta lignin pathway was indicated as being helpful in learning how to make flowering plant by-products easier to deal with in industry.

Click here to read original research.

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