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Quest for trees that can fight pollution tests biotechnology

On the site of a former hat factory in Danbury, Conn., a stand of genetically altered cottonwood trees suck mercury from the contaminated soil.

Across the continent in California, researchers use transgenic Indian mustard plants to soak up dangerously high selenium deposits caused by irrigation of the nation’s bread basket.

Still others are engineering trees to retain more carbon and thus combat global warming.

The gene jockeys conducting these exotic experiments envision a future in which plants can be used as an inexpensive, safer, and more effective way of disposing of pollution.

”Trees are really made for this . . . we just have to trick them to do what we want them to do," said Richard Meagher, whose University of Georgia students went to Danbury in 2003 as part of the most advanced, open-air experiment in the United States involving trees genetically engineered to eat pollution.

By Associated Press

Full Story: http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2005/07/04/quest_for_trees_that_can_fight_pollution_tests_biotechnology/

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