Genetically modified wood | SAIGON GIAI PHONG NEWSPAPER

Scientists at the University of Maryland, USA, led by Professors Yiping Qi and Liangbing Hu, have created a form of poplar wood that is as strong as chemically treated wood and on par with aluminium in tensile strength. They did this by editing the main gene in poplar trees involved in lignin production.

Genetically modified poplar tree from the University of Maryland. Photo: UOM

By doing this, the scientists reduced the amount of lignin in the poplar by nearly 13%. Lignin is a polymer that helps stabilize the structure of cell walls in plants and also aids in the transport of water and nutrients.

Normally, when processing wood to make it harder and more durable, people will chemically reduce the amount of lignin in the wood.

This process is energy-intensive and involves the use of a lot of chemicals that can be harmful to the environment. By genetically removing lignin from wood before the tree grows, scientists can reduce our reliance on harmful chemicals and further reduce the carbon footprint of wood processing.

Wood is becoming an increasingly popular building material due to its ability to trap CO2, which helps to limit planetary warming.

HUY QUOC

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/go-bien-doi-gen-post759655.html