Local scientists said they are able to cultivate ginsenoside, an effective component in ginseng from yeast. This means the component can be produced in a professional workshop instead of growing on the land, free of threat from water and soil pollution and pesticide residue.
It is one of the new achievements of synthetic biology, which has attracted scientists all over the world, experts said during a forum on the subject launched in Shanghai.
"Synthetic biology is an interdisciplinary branch of biology and engineering. It has become a very popular topic in the science field," said Wang Yong from the Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology and vice director of synthetic biology key laboratory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. "Our scientists have been able to cultivate special plants through the technology, thus reducing plant’s disease and boosting their production."
According to Wang, the new technology can be very meaningful to traditional Chinese medicine, grain, new material development.
"Scientists have started to use bacteria to develop a protein the same with cobweb for clothing materials," he said. "Local scientists also developed an intelligent diabetes management system with combination of biology and electric engineering." (Shanghai Daily)
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