Tomato produces vitamin D. Free Technical Library news

NEWS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, NOVELTY IN ELECTRONICS
Free technical library / timeline

Tomato produces vitamin D

24.05.2022

Researchers at the John Innes Center (UK), together with colleagues from Chile, Italy and Cuba, have identified tomatoes whose leaves are rich in a "precursor" of vitamin D3. Scientists have edited the plant's genome so that the substance accumulates in ripe fruits. The new species is rich in a vitamin whose deficiency leads to serious health problems.

According to scientists, about a billion people in the world suffer from a lack of vitamin D, and this number is growing. The main reason, according to experts, is inadequate nutrition. Our bodies can synthesize vitamin D from 7-dehydrocholesterol (7-DHC), also known as provitamin D3. This happens under the influence of ultraviolet radiation on the skin.

However, food remains the main safe source. But fish and dairy products are expensive and not available to everyone, and there is little D3 in plants.

Provitamin D3 (7-DHC) is produced by some plants, in particular tomatoes, but this occurs during the synthesis of cholesterol, mainly in the leaves and in small quantities. It is absent in ripe fruits.

Previous research has found that this same provitamin is used in fruit to create molecules, and the Sl7-DR2 enzyme helps convert them into other molecules. Using the CRISPR-Cas9 system for gene editing, scientists "turned off" the enzyme in the tomato and ensured that the provitamin accumulated in ripe tomatoes.

Measurements showed a significant increase in the amount of 7-DHC in both the leaves and fruits of the edited Solanaceae. Moreover, both the pulp and the peel of tomatoes turned out to be rich in provitamin. The researchers exposed the plants to UV rays for an hour and found that the provitamin was converted to vitamin D3. The content of a deficient element in one tomato was equal to its amount in two eggs or 30 grams of tuna.

Gene modifications did not affect the growth, development and yield of tomatoes. The product remained useful and safe for consumption and stress-resistant enough for cultivation.

<< Back: Road junction at the bottom of the ocean 24.05.2022

>> Forward: Teenagers don't listen to their parents 23.05.2022

Latest news of science and technology, new electronics:

The existence of an entropy rule for quantum entanglement has been proven 09.05.2024

Quantum mechanics continues to amaze us with its mysterious phenomena and unexpected discoveries. Recently, Bartosz Regula from the RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing and Ludovico Lamy from the University of Amsterdam presented a new discovery that concerns quantum entanglement and its relation to entropy. Quantum entanglement plays an important role in modern quantum information science and technology. However, the complexity of its structure makes understanding and managing it challenging. Regulus and Lamy's discovery shows that quantum entanglement follows an entropy rule similar to that for classical systems. This discovery opens new perspectives in the field of quantum information science and technology, deepening our understanding of quantum entanglement and its connection to thermodynamics. The results of the study indicate the possibility of reversibility of entanglement transformations, which could greatly simplify their use in various quantum technologies. Opening a new rule ... >>

Mini air conditioner Sony Reon Pocket 5 09.05.2024

Summer is a time for relaxation and travel, but often the heat can turn this time into an unbearable torment. Meet a new product from Sony - the Reon Pocket 5 mini-air conditioner, which promises to make summer more comfortable for its users. Sony has introduced a unique device - the Reon Pocket 5 mini-conditioner, which provides body cooling on hot days. With it, users can enjoy coolness anytime, anywhere by simply wearing it around their neck. This mini air conditioner is equipped with automatic adjustment of operating modes, as well as temperature and humidity sensors. Thanks to innovative technologies, Reon Pocket 5 adjusts its operation depending on the user's activity and environmental conditions. Users can easily adjust the temperature using a dedicated mobile app connected via Bluetooth. Additionally, specially designed T-shirts and shorts are available for convenience, to which a mini air conditioner can be attached. The device can oh ... >>

Energy from space for Starship 08.05.2024

Producing solar energy in space is becoming more feasible with the advent of new technologies and the development of space programs. The head of the startup Virtus Solis shared his vision of using SpaceX's Starship to create orbital power plants capable of powering the Earth. Startup Virtus Solis has unveiled an ambitious project to create orbital power plants using SpaceX's Starship. This idea could significantly change the field of solar energy production, making it more accessible and cheaper. The core of the startup's plan is to reduce the cost of launching satellites into space using Starship. This technological breakthrough is expected to make solar energy production in space more competitive with traditional energy sources. Virtual Solis plans to build large photovoltaic panels in orbit, using Starship to deliver the necessary equipment. However, one of the key challenges ... >>

New method for creating powerful batteries 08.05.2024

With the development of technology and the expanding use of electronics, the issue of creating efficient and safe energy sources is becoming increasingly urgent. Researchers at the University of Queensland have unveiled a new approach to creating high-power zinc-based batteries that could change the landscape of the energy industry. One of the main problems with traditional water-based rechargeable batteries was their low voltage, which limited their use in modern devices. But thanks to a new method developed by scientists, this drawback has been successfully overcome. As part of their research, scientists turned to a special organic compound - catechol. It turned out to be an important component that can improve battery stability and increase its efficiency. This approach has led to a significant increase in the voltage of zinc-ion batteries, making them more competitive. According to scientists, such batteries have several advantages. They have b ... >>

Alcohol content of warm beer 07.05.2024

Beer, as one of the most common alcoholic drinks, has its own unique taste, which can change depending on the temperature of consumption. A new study by an international team of scientists has found that beer temperature has a significant impact on the perception of alcoholic taste. The study, led by materials scientist Lei Jiang, found that at different temperatures, ethanol and water molecules form different types of clusters, which affects the perception of alcoholic taste. At low temperatures, more pyramid-like clusters form, which reduces the pungency of the "ethanol" taste and makes the drink taste less alcoholic. On the contrary, as the temperature increases, the clusters become more chain-like, resulting in a more pronounced alcoholic taste. This explains why the taste of some alcoholic drinks, such as baijiu, can change depending on temperature. The data obtained opens up new prospects for beverage manufacturers, ... >>

Random news from the Archive

New DVD recording format proposed 29.11.2003

The 216 companies that make up the DVD Forum will jointly introduce a new and improved DVD recording format, the so-called "enhanced DVD".

The new technology provides the same recording density as the existing DVD format, still uses a red laser as a recording device, but the enhanced DVD will provide Internet connectivity and a fast recording mode. Forum participants include well-known electronics manufacturers such as Hitachi Ltd, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co Ltd, Toshiba SOF, Sony SOF and Pioneer SOF.

The new format will allow storing network addresses and special digital keys that authorize the owner when connecting to digital record stores. It is assumed that the first devices that support the updated DVD format will appear on the market as early as 2004. It would be useful, perhaps, to recall that there is also a fundamentally new technology for recording digital video, based on the use of a "blue laser".

Increasing the recording density by reducing the wavelength of the active part of the laser spectrum makes it possible to record up to three hours of digital television broadcasting on one disc. As for the enhanced DVD, the updated DVD can "boast" only 2 hours of recording on one disc.

See full Archive of science and technology news, new electronics

All languages of this page

Home page | Library | Articles | Website map | Site Reviews