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submitted 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) by SteveKLord@slrpnk.net to c/lunar_punk@slrpnk.net

Consumers in the United States can now pre-order a genetically engineered plant for their home or garden that glows continuously. At a base cost of US$29.00, residents of the 48 contiguous states can get a petunia (Petunia hybrida) with flowers that look white during the day; but, in the dark, the plant glows a faint green. Biotechnology firm Light Bio in Sun Valley, Idaho, will begin shipping a batch of 50,000 firefly petunias in April.

Engineered petunia emits a continuous green glow thanks to genes from a light-up mushroom.

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[-] Concave1142@lemmy.world 30 points 6 months ago

Was going to order one because it's only $29 but damn, the shipping was $24.

[-] shalafi@lemmy.world 18 points 6 months ago

Yeah, shipping plants is a pain in the ass. I've also done snails.

Shipping a live thing has so many variables. Current climate on both ends? And in between? Need to include a heat pack or cooler pack? Shit's going to die sometimes, gotta bake in refunds.

$24 is actually reasonable. Hell, I spend that to send computers around the US. $20-$30, here to anywhere.

But a TCO of $50+ is a bit much to satisfy my curiosity. Maybe they'll come to local places soon.

[-] NoIWontPickaName@kbin.social 11 points 6 months ago

I was too, until I read your thing

[-] SteveKLord@slrpnk.net 3 points 6 months ago

That's gotta be around 95% shipping! I'm still a bit tempted and can almost justify it if I consider it as insurance to make sure such a rare plant arrives safely. It's definitely misleading marketing to say it's $29, though.

[-] Terrapinjoe@lemmy.world 16 points 6 months ago

This is wild. It's an annual but sometimes you can keep them alive longer. I wonder if they programmed a kill switch in so you can't do vegetative propogation or sterilized it so you can't produce seeds.

[-] SteveKLord@slrpnk.net 9 points 6 months ago

Hmmm... that's an interesting concern. The article says the company doesn't plan to crack down on those who might share with friends so it seems like they expect it to happen. I imagine it's only a matter of time before someone someone is able to get seeds from the plant. Just imagine what could happen if they ended up in seedbombs.

[-] Sunforged@lemmy.ml 8 points 6 months ago

Bioengeered? That's a resounding yes.

[-] Sludgehammer@lemmy.world 3 points 6 months ago

There's never been a commercially available plant variety that's been genetically engineered to be sterile.

[-] Sludgehammer@lemmy.world 3 points 6 months ago

I wonder if they programmed a kill switch in so you can’t do vegetative propogation or sterilized it so you can’t produce seeds.

Probably not, stopping vegetative propagation would require mucking around with root genes so it'd be a huge mess to keep the roots working correctly. As for sexual reproduction, despite all the fearmongering about "the terminator gene" there's never been a commercially available plant genetically engineered sterile. In fact the technology never made it out of the early testing/seeing if it actually worked phase.

They could however make the plant sterile through non-genetic engineering methods, like breeding a triploid. But that'd be kinda pointless since you could still just make cuttings.

[-] wesker 14 points 6 months ago

I'll be able to locate my cat's barf easier.

[-] SteveKLord@slrpnk.net 6 points 6 months ago

The benefits are endless! The future is indeed bright.

[-] Mango@lemmy.world 13 points 6 months ago

Bro I don't give a fuck. $50 and that shit is in my living room. I'm getting it.

[-] technomad@slrpnk.net 2 points 1 month ago

Did you end up getting one?

[-] Mango@lemmy.world 1 points 1 month ago

Ooohh I forgot about this!

[-] technomad@slrpnk.net 2 points 1 month ago
[-] Mango@lemmy.world 2 points 1 month ago

I'm glad you reminded me so I could have a browser tab perpetually open where I can forget about it more handily!

[-] technomad@slrpnk.net 3 points 1 month ago
[-] SteveKLord@slrpnk.net 3 points 1 month ago

The company recently said they're down to their last batch of the year so you should act quickly if you still want one. I got one and it's been struggling. Seemed traumatized by shipping. Helped it rejuvenate and left it outside to get direct sunlight. I repotted it and it as looking good until recently like it got sick or couldn't handle the weather but I'm trying to keep it alive and hopefully get more in the future. You have to take into a pitch-black area and let your eyes adjust but it does glow when it's healthy.

[-] jadero@slrpnk.net 10 points 6 months ago

My wife is nuts for glow in the dark stuff. Too bad we live in Canada.

[-] SteveKLord@slrpnk.net 6 points 6 months ago

You could try reaching out to the company and asking if they're able to ship but my guess is it would have to be approved by customs in Canada.

[-] jadero@slrpnk.net 9 points 6 months ago

Oh yeah, I don't think moving plants across the border is for the faint of heart or shallowness of pocket.

[-] CounselingTechie@slrpnk.net 10 points 6 months ago

I will be honest, I partially want to wait to see how it goes for others first, and then make my own purchase to see how it works for me.

[-] SteveKLord@slrpnk.net 2 points 6 months ago

That's understandable. It's always risky to be an early adopter. I really hope the majority of these survive and thrive 🤞

[-] CounselingTechie@slrpnk.net 3 points 6 months ago

Agreed! That being said I am being peer pressured by my friend group to get it, since I am already known for being the plant person, lol.

[-] SteveKLord@slrpnk.net 3 points 6 months ago

I suppose plant peer pressure is the least threatening type lol. Your friends should pitch in for shipping if they want to see those glowing baddies so badly.

[-] Radium@sh.itjust.works 7 points 6 months ago

Cool! I bought my wife and I each one. I’ll probably try and propogate it into leca and grow it in my office year round under grow lights 🤞. The shipping hit hurts less for two plants

[-] SteveKLord@slrpnk.net 5 points 6 months ago

It'll be amazing to see how these look in different settings! The company points out in their FAQ that the plant does require several hours of direct sunlight daily as they harvest energy for the bioluminesence from the sun.

[-] technomad@slrpnk.net 1 points 1 month ago

How were they? Did it blow your minds?

[-] Semi-Hemi-Demigod@kbin.social 4 points 6 months ago

Oh no not again

[-] Rubisco@slrpnk.net 4 points 6 months ago

Figure 1. Features of the fungal bioluminescence system. a. Spectrum of fungal bioluminescence (Neonothopanus nambi, in green) overlaid onto the absorbance spectrum of plant leaves (Nicotiana tabacum, in dark gray). b. The caffeic acid cycle shares metabolites with some of the major plant biosynthetic pathways. The fungal or plant origin of enzymes is indicated with mushroom and plantlet symbols, respectively. Abbreviations: 4CL — 4-coumarate:CoA ligase; C3H — p-coumaric acid 3-hydroxylase; C4H — cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase; CCOMT — caffeoyl-CoA 3-O-methyltransferase; CCR — cinnamoyl-CoA reductase; CHI — chalcone isomerase; CHS — chalcone synthase; CPH — putative caffeoyl pyruvate hydrolase; H3H — hispidin-3-hydroxylase; HispS — hispidin synthase; Luz — luciferase; PAL — phenylalanine ammonia-lyase. Absorbance spectrum of leave is representative of experiment performed on three leaves. Luminescence spectrum is rendered from dataset published in Ref.

Oh Luciferase, where have they put you now, my friend?

this post was submitted on 10 Feb 2024
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