Comments on: Solar Cells from Tobacco Plants May Be a Reality Soon

By: Nick

Nick — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 19:00:57 +0000

See: Energy From Electrogenic Grass Plants. Why go through all of the faming process? And I agree that a virus is probably an unstable form. I genetically stabilized plant that self-replicates and self-organizes could be better. However, this may be another solution to the Electric Grass problem. Research is currently being done to genetically program plant cells to become electrocyte cells by Professor Michael Sussman at UW Madison Biotechnology Center. This concept, minus the viral spray, could be directly engineered into a plant that is not a crop and needs not be harvested, at least as a booster for an electric organ. It looks as if something like electrogenic grass is shaping up pretty quickly. I will take years of research to determine which method is better, or a combination of the two methods might be even more efficient. Perhaps these solar cell compounds could be used to boost electrical gradients at the mitochondria so as to boost the production of ATP for use by an electric organ. That sounds right.

By: prass

prass — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:26:15 +0000

I am scared of the idea to using a virus to manipulate a plant. What if the virus mutates and starts acting on all plants? How much knowledge and ability do we have to control the behavior of known viruses?

By: kris

kris — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:20:45 +0000

How come the tobacco plant is used? Can other autotophs be used as well?

By: Konstantin

Konstantin — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 03:43:37 +0000

Quote: ‘The virus infects a cell which then enables the virus to spread just as any other virus would.’

Thank you for your assurance post, David. It helps to know that somewhere there is a lab with a group of scientists that has a contingency plan. The use of nano-technology for this purpose is also interesting. I just think that before releasing a news story with a hidden ‘VIRUS’ in it and think it’s gonna fly is a bit naive, given all the science fiction movies clearly demonstrating possible outcomes..

I also think an article like that should come with a clear description of the technology involved, possible risks, contingency plans, institutional ownership/responsibility for the project, etc.. Testing should also be performed in authentic agreement with local inhabitants so they understand and agree to the possible risks involved and what’s in it for them in case this project is a success.

One question, why specifically tobacco plants were chosen for this project?

Thank you.

By: David

David — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 10:39:45 +0000

To all the skeptics out there, I just want to inform you that the most sophisticated biotoechnology labs, such as the one at UC Berkeley mentioned in this article, have a department tasked with the job of coming up with contingencies for the risks associated with such projects.

The ‘human practice’ issues, as they are called, cover the likelihood of each negative consequence, and what to do in case of such an occurrence (the government is on board here as well). I used to work for this very department in the Berkeley Biotechnology labs, and let me assure you that the risk of a virus mutating and becoming harmful is always assessed, and has an astronomically low chance (I’m talking one-in-a-trillion) chance of happening.

In the case of such an event, it wouldn’t be all that difficult to contain or neutralize the mutant virus either. It’s possible, and common practice, to put a kill-safe measure into these viruses so that they will destroy themselves under specific (or general) circumstances.

Duda is correct; these viruses are just programmed cells that do a specific task to a specific type of cell in a specific organism, and are much more akin to a nano-sized computer than some science fiction horror plot.

By: Duda

Duda — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:11:42 +0000

The word “virus” should not immediately make people paranoid about such a good thing. A virus simply does job, it’s like a program on a computer. We are programming these plants to reform their cells so that the liquid harvested after can convert solar light to energy on other objects. Now, what i care more about is what is the efficiency of cells made from this material and a better idea of how long they will last. silicon solar cells don’t last too long, they hit 50% efficiency after only 10 years. It’s hard to do worse than them.

By: ron

ron — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 21:23:43 +0000

It is too late to worry about the long term environmental problems that the virus could cause as it has been in the open & spread already. Very unlikely to do more damage than the plant has done to the people world via cigarette smoking. Time for it to help us.

By: bill39

bill39 — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 02:22:56 +0000

Using the tobacco plant for solar cells sounds like a good idea, but the USDA is sure to get their cut of the profits so it may not be as cost effective as one thinks. It may benefit us all to use every source of alternative energy that we can come up with.

By: jota

jota — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 09:59:13 +0000

That’s interesting, but that should take time for testing. Viruses despite they come to light naturally or created artificially, they are dangerous and always will. So to create one artificial.. scientist should be very confident of what they are doing despite the fact that such virus can create a LOT of energy. What for that energy will be needed when the population disappears due to mutation of those viruses?

By: Gary

Gary — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 02:00:41 +0000

Interesting comments. The intent of the article is generating power from a tobacco plant, yet most of the comments are about genetic manipulation, playing god, or sacred usage. Give me a break!
1. How many billions of viruses live the world today?
2. just exactly how was god being played?
3. Sacred use of a plant is fine, but are you saying tobacco plants can’t be used for this activity, or can it only be used for smoking?
4. How do we know precautions were NOT taken?

Very interesting indeed.

By: Konstantin

Konstantin — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:18:10 +0000

First, this is interesting that humans have finally found a way to harvest electricity from plants.

Secondly, using a virus to accomplish this is completely NOT SAFE, just by the very definition of it.

Thirdly, obviously this article was written by a person who does not see value in tobacco plants except cigarettes. FYI, tobacco is a sacred plant and has been used by the native inhabitants for a very long time. It causes cancer only due to its misuse.

And finally, I wish scientists who are working on this project would consult with indigenous users of this plant to come up with better alternatives than what’s been described in this article.

Thank you.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:11:07 +0000

This sounds like something straight out of science fiction, virus included. It’s an intriguing idea, but I agree with Jason that the implications should be thoroughly investigated and thought out before it goes into mass production. Otherwise, as with GM crops, we run the risk of performing pretty radical experiments on ourselves and our world.

By: Mido A. Moneim

Mido A. Moneim — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 10:00:16 +0000

The idea is great if it’s true. However, I’m of the same opinion as Jason. I just scrolled to the comment section having one thing in mind; those who will do the spraying and others who will apply the resultant product on the intended surfaces will have this virus in their bodies whatever the precautions are, let alone spreading that virus in the atmosphere.

This creates a persisting moral as well as scientific request to the involved scientists: Before you go after the plant, your GM virus must be subjected to a long term testing and verification of its nature, if only because playing God in genetic manipulation of viruses would most probably result in catastrophe.

I’m not pessimistic, but that sounds familiar with the Aids virus.

By: Jason

Jason — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:21:02 +0000

I’m probably being paranoid here, but this kinda stuff scares the daylights out of me. Viruses spread and mutate as they do, and this virus does some strange things.

I’m no scientist, and I won’t speculate on exactly what could go wrong here. I just suggest that unintended consequences should be thoroughly examined before really deploying this technology.

By: Jon Rennie

Jon Rennie — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:10:20 +0000

Very interesting post. We are surrounded by tobacco fields here in eastern NC. Who knew we were the next alternative energy solution!