Multivitamin Corn
Why pop multivitamins when you can pop. . . corn?This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science. And with the newest Freak of Nature: vitamin-packed corn on the cob. It was created by Paul Christou, from the University of Lleida in Spain. In the lab, he played God with two-week-old corn embryos. MEAN God. Which is to say: He shot the niblets with microscopic bullets made of gold. The pellets carry a mixed bag of genes: One each for vitamins C and B9 and two that synthesize beta-carotene--that's the chemical precursor to Vitamin A. It gives carrots their color. And. The pellets landed where intended: in the nuclei of corn cells. There, the genes mingled with the plant's DNA. His FrankenCobs grew up LOVELY--and LOADED with nutrients. Compared to un-tinkered-with corn, his creations had twice the vitamin B and six times the vitamin C. Oh, and SEVENTEEN THOUSAND PERCENT more beta-carotene. The new grub could give a nutritious boost to vitamin-deficient folks throughout the world. As long as they like corn. Sprouted in a lab. With kernels that are day-Glo orange.
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