The available production of cocaine in tobacco is too small to meet the demand on a mass scale, but will play an important role for science.
Chinese geneticists have hacked and edited the genes of a plant related to tobacco. As a result, medicines are made from it. Futurism writes about it.
The discovery belongs to scientists from the Kunming Institute of Botany. They identified two previously unknown enzymes that play an important role in the production of cocaine.
In their experiment, the researchers used the plant Nicotiana benthamiana.
This plant is capable of producing 400 nanograms of cocaine per milligram of dry leaves. And this is only a quarter of the average yield of the plant.
“The role of cocaine in medicine is important. For example, two years ago, the FDA approved an anesthetic for controlled use in a nasal spray. This study is really a breakthrough for pharmaceuticals. It shows study that in the future, pharmaceutical companies will be able to completely move away from plant-based cocaine production and synthesize it in laboratories,” the researchers said.
Remember that earlier in Argentina they found the cause of mass poisoning of people with cocaine
In Argentina, 17 people died from cocaine poisoning
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Source: korrespondent
I am Ben Stock, a passionate and experienced digital journalist working in the news industry. At the Buna Times, I write articles covering technology developments and related topics. I strive to provide reliable information that my readers can trust. My research skills are top-notch, as well as my ability to craft engaging stories on timely topics with clarity and accuracy.