January 17th, 2008 by ThunderDragon
The SuperCarrot is here!
Scientists in the US say they have created a genetically-engineered carrot that provides extra calcium.
They hope that adding the vegetable to a normal diet could help ward off conditions such as brittle bone disease and osteoporosis.
Someone eating the new carrot absorbs 41% more calcium than if they ate the old, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences study suggests. (BBC)
They hope that adding the vegetable to a normal diet could help ward off conditions such as brittle bone disease and osteoporosis.
Someone eating the new carrot absorbs 41% more calcium than if they ate the old, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences study suggests. (BBC)
What is the point of this? Why genetically-engineer just for the sake of it? Instead of making the food give people what they need, teach people what food to eat. Frankly, people should just be taught the right kinds of food to give them what the vitamins etc they need rather than using science to create food that will do so.
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Re the calcium carrot. The problem is that many people have to take calcium supplementation to avoid osteoporosis, especially older women. Lots of calcium. It is very difficult to get large enough amounts of calcium from food, except via milk milk products. You often see calcium added to orange juice for example and many people take it via tablets.
I assume that’s where these scientists are coming from in trying to get calcium into carrots. I wonder how they did that. Another way to get the much needed calcium into the diet.