Glow Up: The Evolution of Synthetic Biology and the Rise of Luminous Plants

Saturday - February 17 2024, 13:28 UTC - 9 months ago

After decades of attempts, scientists have finally achieved the dream of creating glowing gardens and parks reminiscent of Pandora in Avatar. Light Bio's breakthrough involves splicing genes from luminous mushrooms into familiar garden plants, resulting in the first continuously glowing plant approved for commercial sale in the US. This marks a new era for synthetic biology, with endless possibilities for both aesthetic pleasure and practical uses.

In a world where science fiction meets reality, one of the most iconic images of glowing gardens has finally come to life. It has been a dream of scientists and garden enthusiasts alike for decades, but only in recent years has it become a reality. The concept of glowing plants and animals has been a staple in the field of synthetic biology, where scientists manipulate the genetic codes of organisms to create desired traits .

From inserting a gene to make an organism glow as visual proof of a biological process to creating entire gardens filled with brightly lit flora, the possibilities are endless.The idea of creating glowing gardens and parks first emerged in the 1980s, but at the time, early attempts were unsuccessful. Scientists were able to splice genes into plants to make them glow, but the light emitted was weak and the plants required special care .

Later experiments with genes from bioluminescent bacteria showed promise, but still fell short of the desired effect. It wasn't until 2020 that a breakthrough was made by a team of scientists, including Light Bio co-founders Karen Sarkisyan and Ilia Yampolsky.The team looked to the luminous mushroom, Neonothopanus nambi, as a potential solution. This mushroom has a chemical reaction involving caffeic acid, a molecule commonly found in plants, which produces luciferin and light .

By splicing these genes into tobacco plants, the team was able to achieve a similar effect without the need for any special ingredients. However, it was when they tried this approach on petunias that they achieved the most success. Not only did the petunias glow, but the effect was even more pronounced. This prompted the team to continue their research and refine their work.A recent paper published in Nature Methods showcased their efforts .

By adding genes from other mushrooms and using directed evolution techniques, the team was able to significantly increase the luminescence in the plants. They also hope to continue their work and potentially increase the brightness by up to 10-fold, add different colors to the mix, and expand their research to other plant varieties.But what makes Light Bio's breakthrough truly remarkable is not just the scientific achievement, but the fact that it has become a commercial product .

In the past, attempts to offer consumers glowing plants have been unsuccessful. However, in September of 2023, Light Bio received approval from the US Department of Agriculture to sell their firefly petunias as non-regulated organisms. They wasted no time in announcing their availability and calling for applications for their first shipment of 50,000 plants.Light Bio's success marks a new era in synthetic biology where the fruits of labor can not only be seen in the lab, but in everyday life .

Imagine walking through a park filled with glowing plants and flowers on your way home from work, or sitting in a garden surrounded by brilliantly lit flora. Not only does this have the potential to bring aesthetic pleasure, but it also opens up practical uses for these glowing plants.The firefly petunia is just the beginning for Light Bio. They plan to expand their research to other plant varieties and colors, and continue to enhance the brightness of their creations .

Their success is not only a step towards our sci-fi dreams of living in a world similar to Avatar's Pandora, but also a sign of the endless possibilities and potential of synthetic biology.