Did You Know?

Plants have been used for centuries as medicines - now genetically modified plants can produce plastic. Biotechnologists managed this by inserting 4 genes from plastic-producing bacteria into varieties of oilseed rape and cress. Conventional plastics are made from oil and do not degrade easily, but the plant plastic is biodegradable. However, it is expensive, costing five times more than pertoleum-derived plastic.

By the way, the word plastic comes from the Greek plastikos, meaning"to form" or "to shape".

Money doesn't grow ontrees but one day, perhaps credit cards will!

About the genetic engineering... Actually, man has been "genetically modifying" everything from food to dogs for many centuries, but in the past his only tool has been selective breeding. There are a variety of ways scientists can now modify plants and animals with genetic engineering techniques.

In the meantime, take good care of your real plants. Clean them often, speak to them, and play them some nice music- there is a lot of research showing melodic or classical stimulates plants to grow healthier.