Red leaves, signs of pain

2004/03/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Genetika

(Photo: Aresa Biodetection).

Denmark has developed a transgenic plant to detect underground mines. The transformed plant is the Arabidopsis thaliana, relative close to mustard, and the leaves are reddened by the action of nitrogen dioxide caused by pain.

The red color of the leaves is the same as that of the original plant in autumn, since in autumn they have transformed the gene that directs the production of the pigment that reddens the leaves, called anthocyanin. Thus, when nitrogen dioxide is introduced into the roots, the plant produces anthocyanin, the leaves become red and the pain below is evident.