Release time: August 17, 2024 | Source of information: Sino-Singapore Anhui Affairs
A Chinese scientific research team successfully developed China's first gene-edited plant that emits light at night with high brightness. Li Renhan, the leader of the scientific research team, said in a recent interview that implanting bioluminescent genes such as fireflies into plant cells to create magical luminous plants similar to those in the movie "Avatar" has opened up a new direction in the field of plant green lighting.
Gene-edited high-brightness self-luminous plants at night were developed by the scientific research team of Hefei Shenbi Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as Shenbi Bio). According to Li Renhan, scientific researchers use gene editing technology to introduce the luminescent genes of fireflies, luminous mushrooms and other organisms into plant cells, so that the plants can emit high-brightness light visible to the naked eye at night.
Li Renhan said that the scientific research team has gone through 532 technical iterations and overcome multiple technical difficulties. The most difficult one is how to make plants glow in a way that is visible to the naked eye. "We have successfully achieved high-throughput expression of foreign genes in plant cells and broken the barriers to gene expression." Li Renhan said that the scientific research team also optimized the enzymes in the reaction process to improve the efficiency of the enzymes, superimposed multiple genes at the same time, and changed some of the limiting genes of the plant itself, and finally made the plant reach a high-brightness state visible to the naked eye.
Compared with similar international products, Shenbi Bio's luminous plants have obvious advantages in brightness. "Our plants do not require long-term camera exposure. The luminous effect can be quickly seen with the naked eye in a dark environment, and commercial lighting can be achieved." Li Renhan said.
At present, Shenbi Biology has successfully achieved high-brightness self-luminescence on a variety of plants, including sunflowers, and is expanding its luminescence technology for other flower species. "We are transforming roses, roses, lilies and other flowers. We hope to see a variety of luminous plants appear on the market in the future," Li Renhan said.
"This technology has broad application prospects and may change the nighttime landscape of future cities." Li Renhan said that luminous plants can be used in home decoration, children's night lights, and even park greening and municipal road greening. The vision of the scientific research team is to develop a scene similar to that in the movie "Avatar", so that the entire park presents a dreamlike glowing scene.
January 13, 2026
January 13, 2026
January 13, 2026