House plants can purify air.... SCIENTISTS TAKE LEAF OUT OF HUMAN LIVER

RHYS BLAKELY, TT, 21 Dec 2018, London: House plants have already been shown to improve mood, reduce stress and sharpen concentration.

Now scientists have added another quality. They have engineered a variety of ivy that draws toxic gasses from the air by inserting a gene that helps to break down alcohol in the human liver.

Researchers said that the project could lead to "smart plants" that are capable of purifying homes and alerting families to danger.

Scientists at the University of Washington spliced a gene taken from a rabbit into the DNA of pothos, also known as devil's ivy, which is often kept indoors.

The modified ivy was able to remove chloroform and benzene, both of which have been linked to cancer, from the atmosphere far more effectively than the unaltered variety.

The added gene creates a protein called cytochrome P450 2E1, the same substance that occurs in the human liver but is only switched on when alcohol is consumed.

In the engineered plant, chloroform was converted into chloride ions and carbon dioxide, which plants absorb during photosynthesis.

Benzene was converted to phenol, which plants use to help make components of their cell walls, according to the study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology.

"People haven't really been talking about these hazardous organic compounds in homes, and I think that's because we couldn't do anything about them," said Stuart Strand, the senior author, of the University of Washington.

"Now we've engineered house plants to remove these pollutants for usThe same team is working to increase the plants' capabilities by adding a protein that can break down formaldehyde, which is present in tobacco smoke.

Researchers at the University of Tennessee have suggested that house plants could be engineered to warn of potential harmful materials including mould and radon gas, by changing colour.

The air in our homes is full of many other pollutants, from furnishings, heating and cooking.

Researchers say in practice a few plants make little difference.

The Times, London.