Thanks to Spanish scientists, a more nutritious and aesthetically pleasing lettuce may soon be used to combat vitamin deficiencies. New Atlas The Institute of Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology (IBMCP) has developed a new type of genetically modified “Golden Lettuce“It contains 30 times more nutrients than common leafy vegetables,” a study has found. Plant Journal.
The secret to this vegetable’s healthy properties and golden colour is Beta caroteneThis pigment gives red, orange, and yellow vegetables, such as carrots, their distinctive hues. Vitamin APromotes cell growth, immune function, fetal development, and vision.
Changing the plant’s structure to produce more beta-carotene was not easy. scientist The change had to be made without disrupting the cytoplasm (the fluid inside the leaf cells). photosynthesisare plants that use chlorophyll (a green pigment) to produce energy, and they have modified lettuce leaf cells to store extra beta-carotene without damaging the plant.
A team from a Spanish lab wasn’t trying to develop a new designer lettuce variety, but rather aimed to tackle malnutrition. Vitamin A deficiency While rare in countries like the United States, developing countries, especially Africa and Southeast AsiaDeficiencies in important nutrients frequently lead to complications of the skin, heart, lungs, and immune system.
Vitamin A deficiency can also cause the following symptoms: Visual impairment and blindnessChildren are particularly susceptible to these conditions – in fact, the problem is the leading cause of blindness among young people around the world. 250,000 to 500,000 Every year, children lose their sight due to vitamin A deficiency, and half of them die within a year of losing their sight.
The researchers study This will be a first step towards reducing the impact of vitamin A deficiency worldwide.
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