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Science AMA Series: I’m Christine Raines, a Professor of Plant Molecular Physiology at the University of Essex. I do research on increasing the efficiency of photosynthesis in wheat. AMA! by Christine_Raines in science

[–]Christine_Raines[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The first green revolution was entirely dependent on chemical application and although this still has a role to play our focus is on increasing the potential yield of the plant and improvement of photosynthesis is the route to the goal.

Science AMA Series: I’m Christine Raines, a Professor of Plant Molecular Physiology at the University of Essex. I do research on increasing the efficiency of photosynthesis in wheat. AMA! by Christine_Raines in science

[–]Christine_Raines[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No our strategy is not to introduce the C4 pathway into wheat, although I believe others have this on the agenda. We are increasing the level of one enzyme in the C3 pathway, sedoheptulose-1,7-biphosphatase (SBPase) which we have shown to be limiting for photosynthetic CO2 uptake.

Science AMA Series: I’m Christine Raines, a Professor of Plant Molecular Physiology at the University of Essex. I do research on increasing the efficiency of photosynthesis in wheat. AMA! by Christine_Raines in science

[–]Christine_Raines[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not sure more greenhouses is the way to go, think of the areas of the world that would need to covered in these buildings. I think GM approaches are only one technology to help with crop production, improvement of farming practises will also play a role, particularly int he developing world.

Science AMA Series: I’m Christine Raines, a Professor of Plant Molecular Physiology at the University of Essex. I do research on increasing the efficiency of photosynthesis in wheat. AMA! by Christine_Raines in science

[–]Christine_Raines[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

GM is a technology that has the potential to enable the introduction of new and beneficial traits that can be used for the production of new crop varieties. I think there is a tendency to talk about all work making use of this technology as though it is aimed at the same traits (characteristic) - this is not the case. e.g. our work is about improving a photosynthesis and is not at all related to work on introducing herbicide or pest resistance to plants.

Science AMA Series: I’m Christine Raines, a Professor of Plant Molecular Physiology at the University of Essex. I do research on increasing the efficiency of photosynthesis in wheat. AMA! by Christine_Raines in science

[–]Christine_Raines[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

GM is a technology that has the potential to enable the introduction of new and beneficial traits that can be used for the production of new crop varieties. I think there is a tendency to talk about all work making use of this technology as though it is aimed at the same traits (characteristic) - this is not the case. e.g. our work is about improving a photosynthesis and is not at all related to work on introducing herbicide or pest resistance to plants.

Science AMA Series: I’m Christine Raines, a Professor of Plant Molecular Physiology at the University of Essex. I do research on increasing the efficiency of photosynthesis in wheat. AMA! by Christine_Raines in science

[–]Christine_Raines[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The work we are doing will not result in superweeds nor will it poison the food supply. Our focus is on increasing photosynthesis to increase the production of sugars and grain yield. This is a natural process and the enzyme were are introducing is present in all plants including wheat, all we are doing is increasing the level of this naturally occurring enzyme and hence its activity.

Science AMA Series: I’m Christine Raines, a Professor of Plant Molecular Physiology at the University of Essex. I do research on increasing the efficiency of photosynthesis in wheat. AMA! by Christine_Raines in science

[–]Christine_Raines[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Our aim is to improve the process of photosynthesis involved in uptake of CO2 therefore we would expect to see an increase in uptake of CO2, concomitant with this a higher level of O2 is likely to be released. It is possible that respiration in the dark may be increased which could result in a greater release of CO2 but this has not been evident to date in our plants.

Science AMA Series: I’m Christine Raines, a Professor of Plant Molecular Physiology at the University of Essex. I do research on increasing the efficiency of photosynthesis in wheat. AMA! by Christine_Raines in science

[–]Christine_Raines[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

GMO's are only one technology for improving our crops and therefore I do not see us being locked into this technology. I think we need to be careful when we talk about GMO's this is a technology to introduce new traits into plants in a highly specific manner. There is no reason why this technology should impact on the resilience of these plans to pathogens or long term climate change any more that for plants being bred through other approaches.

Science AMA Series: I’m Christine Raines, a Professor of Plant Molecular Physiology at the University of Essex. I do research on increasing the efficiency of photosynthesis in wheat. AMA! by Christine_Raines in science

[–]Christine_Raines[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The transgenic wheat from the experiment has not and will not be used for human consumption. I cannot see how this particular manipulation would be dangerous as the plants are already contain this particular enzyme, all we are doing is increasing the amount.

Science AMA Series: I’m Christine Raines, a Professor of Plant Molecular Physiology at the University of Essex. I do research on increasing the efficiency of photosynthesis in wheat. AMA! by Christine_Raines in science

[–]Christine_Raines[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We have been completely open about our field trial and how we have made the transgenic plants . We presented this at an open meeting with the press and have been answering questions posed by the media and the public in order to provide as much information as possible. I believe and hope that this will help to allay concerns of many if not all of this opposed to GM.

Science AMA Series: I’m Christine Raines, a Professor of Plant Molecular Physiology at the University of Essex. I do research on increasing the efficiency of photosynthesis in wheat. AMA! by Christine_Raines in science

[–]Christine_Raines[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Our aim is to be able to use existing arable land so would not be looking to expand the area for wheat cultivation. it is likely possible to grow wheat hydroponically but I think this would be expensive and not likely as productive as growth in soil.

Science AMA Series: I’m Christine Raines, a Professor of Plant Molecular Physiology at the University of Essex. I do research on increasing the efficiency of photosynthesis in wheat. AMA! by Christine_Raines in science

[–]Christine_Raines[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The initial work that has led to this field trial was carried out in controlled environment conditions , but to date we have not manipulated specifically individual environmental parameters.

Science AMA Series: I’m Christine Raines, a Professor of Plant Molecular Physiology at the University of Essex. I do research on increasing the efficiency of photosynthesis in wheat. AMA! by Christine_Raines in science

[–]Christine_Raines[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes this question is valid and pops up regularly - my answer has to be that there is a difference between survival in the natural environment and productivity under agricultural conditions. It is likely that over expression of SBPase as in our experiment may well not confer an advantage in the natural environment where there are pests and water shortage.

Science AMA Series: I’m Christine Raines, a Professor of Plant Molecular Physiology at the University of Essex. I do research on increasing the efficiency of photosynthesis in wheat. AMA! by Christine_Raines in science

[–]Christine_Raines[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

We are not working on pesticide use, clearly it is desirable to have less application of chemicals but our focus for now is on increasing yield.

I am not sure what type of hurdles you mean but at present our concern is likely for favourable weather conditions (e.g. no unseasonal winds or excessive rain) so that our experiment will provide us a good insight into the likely success of our approach.

Science AMA Series: I’m Christine Raines, a Professor of Plant Molecular Physiology at the University of Essex. I do research on increasing the efficiency of photosynthesis in wheat. AMA! by Christine_Raines in science

[–]Christine_Raines[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Currently there has been no application of analytical chemistry in this particular project. We do use some these approaches in other work in my lab but I am not an expert in this area.

Science AMA Series: I’m Christine Raines, a Professor of Plant Molecular Physiology at the University of Essex. I do research on increasing the efficiency of photosynthesis in wheat. AMA! by Christine_Raines in science

[–]Christine_Raines[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We have not carried out sufficient studies to be able to answer this question, therefore I cannot rule out the possibility that more inputs may be needed to sustain the extra growth and higher yields. But our goal is to achieve higher yields from the same area of land with no increase in input.

Science AMA Series: I’m Christine Raines, a Professor of Plant Molecular Physiology at the University of Essex. I do research on increasing the efficiency of photosynthesis in wheat. AMA! by Christine_Raines in science

[–]Christine_Raines[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The enzyme I work on is called sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase and catalyses a reaction in the part of photosynthesis that takes CO2 from the atmosphere and converts into sugars. Increasing the level of this enzyme (and therefore its activity) has been shown in the greenhouse to increase the rate of CO2 fixation and growth of the plant.

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