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Decoded Corn Genome Promises Higher Yields, Better Biofuels

Popular Science -- With its annual output of over 330 million tons a year feeding animals, running cars, and decorating South Dakota tourist attractions, maize is clearly Americas most important crop. That's why the newly published complete corn genome could drastically change the food, automotive and plastic industries. Already, scientists have identified genes that could boost yield, change the cell wall to make more biofuel, or raise the nutritional value of this vital cereal.

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Submitted Nov 20, 2009 By: GM

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adr47 Champion Author Saskatchewan Posts:1,532 Points:367,245 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 1:46:50 PM Ignore adr47 Report Abuse Corn is for food not fuel
the1roadhog Champion Author Atlanta Posts:4,246 Points:908,455 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 11:01:31 AM Ignore the1roadhog Report Abuse the road to mainstream alternatives will be a long and winding one.
mazdaboy Champion Author Portland Posts:2,176 Points:967,375 Joined:Aug 2003	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 11:00:34 AM Ignore mazdaboy Report Abuse More of a bad thing is not better.
THEDodgeman Champion Author Denver Posts:2,191 Points:797,835 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:54:07 AM Ignore THEDodgeman Report Abuse SELL THE CORN TO THE ARABS FOR OIL... FORGET ETHANOL ITS USELESS..
smoketown Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:2,426 Points:508,890 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:53:11 AM Ignore smoketown Report Abuse Ethanol sucks....
DirtDauber All-Star Author San Antonio Posts:945 Points:479,110 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:52:22 AM Ignore DirtDauber Report Abuse Corn is an edible substance. Better to eat, than to drive with.
jayrad1957 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:5,578 Points:445,115 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:40:55 AM Ignore jayrad1957 Report Abuse Corn for food, not cars.
lkgasspotter All-Star Author Atlanta Posts:608 Points:153,845 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:40:54 AM Ignore lkgasspotter Report Abuse Here we go again. Make us choose between eating our food or using it to drive. Thanks for the choice. Higher yields or not, higher prices are the end result.
Don20 Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:3,850 Points:1,471,120 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:40:36 AM Ignore Don20 Report Abuse Corn is to EAT, there are other things to make fuel out of..
Tnerbeel Champion Author Houston Posts:2,874 Points:601,560 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:38:40 AM Ignore Tnerbeel Report Abuse Grow it to eat, not to burn
squeakyUT All-Star Author Salt Lake City Posts:868 Points:212,175 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:38:09 AM Ignore squeakyUT Report Abuse Corn should be used as food. If a person had a choice between eating or driving their car, I think most would choose eating.
gabbygusIN Champion Author Indiana Posts:1,499 Points:422,375 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:37:59 AM Ignore gabbygusIN Report Abuse Keep corn as a food!!
madison8359 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:1,800 Points:452,445 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:36:35 AM Ignore madison8359 Report Abuse This could be promising.
w4kh Champion Author Riverside Posts:5,976 Points:1,100,370 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:35:39 AM Ignore w4kh Report Abuse Bio-fuels from a variety of sources represent an alternative to imported crude oil. This genome research will allow for making specialized corn for fuel, specialized corn for cattle feed, and specialized corn for food, all with far higher yields and better performance... getting vehicles that can properly use the bio-fuel produced from corn or algae, or switch grass or whatever is part of the solution - if race cars use ethanol instead of gasoline, it can't be because ethanol isn't as efficient... so design for bio-fuels and we're all better off.
jb107 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:3,993 Points:1,481,690 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:33:26 AM Ignore jb107 Report Abuse Ban corn use as a fuel source. Use it for food.
EricON Sophomore Author Ontario Posts:231 Points:95,105 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:31:10 AM Ignore EricON Report Abuse Food is more important than cheaper fuel
Ringmaster2008 Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,082 Points:377,285 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:30:29 AM Ignore Ringmaster2008 Report Abuse The way I understand it, maize is not corn for human food. It is what as a kid we called "cattle corn" but that does not mean that it is not a food supply.
bbreff Champion Author Atlanta Posts:4,292 Points:1,465,670 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:29:21 AM Ignore bbreff Report Abuse Forget ethanol, use that grain to feed livestock so we could have lower food prices.
Helms Champion Author Fort Worth Posts:3,530 Points:1,067,470 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:29:09 AM Ignore Helms Report Abuse THANK YOU BOU!!! not to mention we run th erisk of jacking up food prices.....not a smart plan!!!
TeachR06 Champion Author Raleigh Posts:3,142 Points:910,375 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:28:30 AM Ignore TeachR06 Report Abuse NO ethanol. It ruins small engines and not good for long term use in cars.
Bou Champion Author Maine Posts:5,249 Points:1,529,740 Joined:Jan 2005	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:26:58 AM Ignore Bou Report Abuse Ethanol is a poor alternative fuel, less mileage, does damage to current motors ect.
yukonjack Champion Author Georgia Posts:3,698 Points:1,016,825 Joined:Oct 2004	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:26:37 AM Ignore yukonjack Report Abuse And exactly what does this change in the corn genome do to its value as a food supply?
biza4u Champion Author New Haven Posts:2,726 Points:482,330 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:26:20 AM Ignore biza4u Report Abuse These ideas are fine but we need to have speedy research to bring them to market
Rednix All-Star Author Miami Posts:878 Points:186,435 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:26:05 AM Ignore Rednix Report Abuse I've heard it cost as much in gasoline to produce the fuel from corn. Ethanol is a less powerful fuel so we end up losing. Until the technology gets better for this why do we put so much effort into it?
CharlieC08 Champion Author Colorado Posts:2,923 Points:474,120 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:25:26 AM Ignore CharlieC08 Report Abuse So far I have not been impressed by ethanol.
twiper1 Champion Author San Diego Posts:2,040 Points:453,020 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:23:26 AM Ignore twiper1 Report Abuse Wh do they insist on liquid fuels? Solar is the way
Ticoman54 Champion Author Miami Posts:1,792 Points:417,770 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:22:47 AM Ignore Ticoman54 Report Abuse Use waste and not corn as a biofuel.
Sam195 Champion Author San Bernardino Posts:2,370 Points:452,930 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:22:29 AM Ignore Sam195 Report Abuse No more food for gas.
civicdutie Champion Author Rochester Posts:1,904 Points:383,150 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:21:40 AM Ignore civicdutie Report Abuse Perhaps they could use the emptied/finished cobs instead...?
granma3xnow Champion Author Indiana Posts:1,978 Points:405,925 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:20:05 AM Ignore granma3xnow Report Abuse If they can alter the genes without chemicals, why not? Especially if it can boost the yield and change the cell wall to make more biofuel. (where were these scientists 10 years ago?)
Zuman All-Star Author New York Posts:667 Points:796,095 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:20:02 AM Ignore Zuman Report Abuse Yeah lets start burning more food .....
SuesBuffalo Champion Author Richmond Posts:1,888 Points:253,790 Joined:Aug 2007	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:18:08 AM Ignore SuesBuffalo Report Abuse High output tortillas?
Jarol Champion Author Iowa Posts:2,432 Points:438,185 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:17:47 AM Ignore Jarol Report Abuse Now this is progress ... but don't use FOOD for fuel.
qmyster All-Star Author Denver Posts:570 Points:166,540 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:17:42 AM Ignore qmyster Report Abuse Corn serve it purpose best when you eat it.
Cheepo Champion Author Tampa Posts:4,321 Points:2,030,640 Joined:Apr 2003	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:17:32 AM Ignore Cheepo Report Abuse No food for fuel!!!!!!!!!!!!!
murdershewrote Champion Author Riverside Posts:3,748 Points:1,456,785 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:15:31 AM Ignore murdershewrote Report Abuse sounds good
Zygnatz Champion Author British Columbia Posts:7,306 Points:1,434,095 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:15:20 AM Ignore Zygnatz Report Abuse Corn should not be used as biofuel.
HEBster Champion Author Kentucky Posts:3,108 Points:1,235,310 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:15:00 AM Ignore HEBster Report Abuse I'm not an ethanol fan but like the research!
CarrottopNe All-Star Author Lincoln Posts:918 Points:342,225 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:14:27 AM Ignore CarrottopNe Report Abuse This is a win win for everyone except probable for the environmentalist.
BeaverBilly Champion Author Alberta Posts:4,082 Points:1,399,605 Joined:Feb 2003	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:12:59 AM Ignore BeaverBilly Report Abuse Save the Corn for the dinner table or feeding the livestock. The MPG for ethanol is horrible.
BlackGumTree Champion Author Virginia Posts:9,201 Points:925,910 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:11:23 AM Ignore BlackGumTree Report Abuse This is a step in the right direction. For those who promote all corn for food, let them try eating field corn. What we need in the long run is a plant that will produce a lot of poly unsaturated fat that can be easily extracted and used for fuel. Something that will grow in poor soil and not need a lot of fertilizer. Maybe developed from the legume family.
CISA Champion Author Orange County Posts:1,338 Points:551,110 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:10:11 AM Ignore CISA Report Abuse works for me
kfinto Veteran Author Texas Posts:303 Points:1,006,030 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:07:39 AM Ignore kfinto Report Abuse Do we want the white coats messing with maize genes? What happens if they screw up?
Toppers Champion Author Atlanta Posts:3,257 Points:1,328,760 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:07:29 AM Ignore Toppers Report Abuse This' really interesting research...
sleepyt All-Star Author Chicago Posts:672 Points:286,475 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:06:39 AM Ignore sleepyt Report Abuse No, no, no. No more corn ethanol, and no GMOs in the food supply.
AC-302 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:13,361 Points:1,776,100 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:06:24 AM Ignore AC-302 Report Abuse I'd argue that WHEAT is more important than corn. Of course, one could also make a strong case that BARLEY is more important than corn, too. After all, it's what beer is made from!! Seriously, if the corn genome can help mankind feed it's growing population more efficiently, why not?
tazdriver Champion Author Huntsville Posts:4,644 Points:1,035,915 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:05:15 AM Ignore tazdriver Report Abuse Until its done this is NT, not there, maybe never will be
clww Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:21,754 Points:481,140 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:05:11 AM Ignore clww Report Abuse Definitely bad for the engines. I have the outdoor power equipment repair bills for the past 3 years to prove it, too! Eat the corn; don't burn it.
148366 Champion Author Spokane Posts:3,646 Points:919,750 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:05:06 AM Ignore 148366 Report Abuse Notice the lack of information on the down side of this.
rvn4me Champion Author Texas Posts:1,125 Points:381,345 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:04:43 AM Ignore rvn4me Report Abuse When are they going to realize that ethanol is not the answer. It creates more green house gas to produce than it saves when mixed with fuel. It cant be piped to the refinery it has to be trucked. It is more expensive all the way around.