The worst gene

At first there were fireflies. These insects, as you know, know how to radiate light and use it for their own purposes. Their mysterious lights are a consequence of the amazing reaction of the oxidation of Luciferin, catalyzed by the enzyme by Luciferaz, an extremely effective reaction that turns the energy of chemical connections into light with an unattainable efficiency of the efficiency.

Then science came. Scientists figured out what molecules and what they turn into, what genes encode the enzyme necessary for turning. Having violated the natural course of things, people modified the plant, the talus resulting, teaching it to glow. The mutant is often in orbit ( http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2013/06MAY_ ARABIDOPSIS ), but the plant is unlikely to find practical use. So it will remain an object for scientific experiments.

There were also bio -hackers from Cambridge ( http://2010.igem.org/team:cambridge ). They worked with bacteria. They were endowed with the ability to turn the oxidation of Luciferin - oxiluciferin - into the original substance. The obtained GM-bacteria did not need constant feeding raw materials. It was enough ordinary bacterial food, the energy of which they spent on the regeneration of Luciferin. At the same time, they gave enough light so that it could be read in the light of a small enzyme with bacteria. But that's not all. Through point mutations in the gene, it was possible to get a multi -colored glow. Not color music, but already suitable for decorating a Christmas tree.

There was a small problem. Luciferin, even with regeneration, is not eternal. And bacteria are not the most practical organisms for use in everyday life. It is precisely a plant that could glow regardless of the external sources of Luciferin. Self -sufficient, regulatory beginning and end of the glow, depending on the time of day. Theoretically, this can be done. Just reproduce in the cell the synthesis of not only Lucifers, but also Luciferin himself and tie these processes to circadian rhythms.

“This can be done,” thought adventurers inspired by the successes of the bio -hackers from the GlowingPlant project ( http://glowingplant.co )

It would seem, to spit on these "green", how many wonderful people are in the world? The success of the business model is expected, who is interested in the opinion of the Alarmists? There are more such projects. But something suddenly went wrong. On July 31, Kikstarter officially announced the termination of support for any projects related to GMOs. Why? Did paranoid letters really affect? What was so scared by plants with luciferin?

No, the point is clearly not in letters. It cannot be so simple. A business for which only money is important is not to intimidate the potential consequences for humanity. The businessman will strangle himself and will strangle everyone around 300% of the profit! There must be more serious grounds!

And suddenly everything fell into place. We are talking about salvation of the whole genus of human.

There is something sinister in luminous plants, and this is not by chance. Sometimes the content is determined by the name. Substances are not always called strict nomenclature. Sometimes they receive talking names. Luciferin and Lucifers, glowing in the darkness, are hardly accidentally named with the name of the enemy of the human. How did we dare to contact Lucifer himself and even change them? Why didn't we think about the consequences? It is good that responsible people gained spirituality and found the power to stop the bacchanalia of progress.

But seriously, this is sad. I have already begun to dream of how in my small homeland, where the lighting of broken roads in the 21st century is considered something not fashionable and unnecessary, GM-Yelki and GM-Bereza, luminous at night, will be imprisoned. Apparently, Lucifer genes will shine only where they were placed initially. In fireflies. And we will somehow live without them and without many new, necessary and simply convenient discoveries.

The main thing is that there is no Apocalypse.

In fairness, I will note that we still have a chance to see a self -sufficient luminous result of Tal. The ban will not affect current projects.