Environmental Health Center
Plant Parmaceuticals
November 11, 1999
Medicines from plants have been used throughout human history. Soon we may get another precious material from plants -- blood. Squeezing blood from tobacco on today's EnvironMinute. [:11]
When you donate blood, you do a good deed. Hemophiliacs and others depend upon the nation's blood supply to help clot blood, among other things. But extracting the clotting components from donated blood is expensive, and viruses can be transmitted along with the blood. Is there a better way? Genetic engineering researchers think so. They're transplanting human genes into tobacco plants to produce blood clotting enzymes and other components useful for treating people. These products may prove less expensive and less risky than real bood. Scientists still have lots of testing to do, but they're optimistic that the technique could save money and lives. [:37]
The EnvironMinute is produced in cooperation with the National Safety Council and made possible by the Teresa and H. John Heinz III Foundation. [:10]
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