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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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Author Topic: Decoded Corn Genome Promises Higher Yields, Better Biofuels Post a Reply Back to Topics
REPLIES (newest first)
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adr47 Car icon
Champion Author Saskatchewan

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 12:46:50 PM

Corn is for food not fuel
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Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:01:31 AM

the road to mainstream alternatives will be a long and winding one.
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Champion Author Portland

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 10:00:34 AM

More of a bad thing is not better.
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Champion Author Denver

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:54:07 AM

SELL THE CORN TO THE ARABS FOR OIL...
FORGET ETHANOL ITS USELESS..
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Champion Author Cincinnati

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:53:11 AM

Ethanol sucks....
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All-Star Author San Antonio

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:52:22 AM

Corn is an edible substance.

Better to eat, than to drive with.
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Champion Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:40:55 AM

Corn for food, not cars.
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All-Star Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:40:54 AM

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.
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Champion Author Oklahoma City

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:40:36 AM

Corn is to EAT, there are other things to make fuel out of..
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Champion Author Houston

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:38:40 AM

Grow it to eat, not to burn
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All-Star Author Salt Lake City

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:38:09 AM

Corn should be used as food. If a person had a choice between eating or driving their car, I think most would choose eating.
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Champion Author Indiana

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:37:59 AM

Keep corn as a food!!
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Champion Author Cleveland

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:36:35 AM

This could be promising.
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Champion Author Riverside

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:35:39 AM

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.
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Champion Author New Jersey

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:33:26 AM

Ban corn use as a fuel source. Use it for food.
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Sophomore Author Ontario

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:31:10 AM

Food is more important than cheaper fuel
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Champion Author Ontario

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:30:29 AM

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.
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Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:29:21 AM



Forget ethanol, use that grain to feed livestock so we could have lower food prices.

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Champion Author Fort Worth

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:29:09 AM

THANK YOU BOU!!! not to mention we run th erisk of jacking up food prices.....not a smart plan!!!
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Champion Author Raleigh

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:28:30 AM

NO ethanol. It ruins small engines and not good for long term use in cars.
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Champion Author Maine

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:26:58 AM

Ethanol is a poor alternative fuel, less mileage, does damage to current motors ect.
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Champion Author Georgia

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:26:37 AM

And exactly what does this change in the corn genome do to its value as a food supply?
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Champion Author New Haven

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:26:20 AM

These ideas are fine but we need to have speedy research to bring them to market
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All-Star Author Miami

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:26:05 AM

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?
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Champion Author Colorado

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:25:26 AM

So far I have not been impressed by ethanol.
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Champion Author San Diego

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:23:26 AM

Wh do they insist on liquid fuels? Solar is the way
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Champion Author Miami

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:22:47 AM

Use waste and not corn as a biofuel.
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Champion Author San Bernardino

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:22:29 AM

No more food for gas.
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Champion Author Rochester

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:21:40 AM

Perhaps they could use the emptied/finished cobs instead...?
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Champion Author Indiana

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:20:05 AM

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?)
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All-Star Author New York

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:20:02 AM

Yeah lets start burning more food .....
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Champion Author Richmond

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:18:08 AM

High output tortillas?
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Champion Author Iowa

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:17:47 AM

Now this is progress ... but don't use FOOD for fuel.
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All-Star Author Denver

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:17:42 AM

Corn serve it purpose best when you eat it.
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Champion Author Tampa

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:17:32 AM

No food for fuel!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Champion Author Riverside

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:15:31 AM

sounds good
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Champion Author British Columbia

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:15:20 AM

Corn should not be used as biofuel.
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Champion Author Kentucky

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:15:00 AM

I'm not an ethanol fan but like the research!
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All-Star Author Lincoln

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:14:27 AM

This is a win win for everyone except probable for the environmentalist.
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Champion Author Alberta

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:12:59 AM

Save the Corn for the dinner table or feeding the livestock. The MPG for ethanol is horrible.
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Champion Author Virginia

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:11:23 AM

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.
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Champion Author Orange County

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:10:11 AM

works for me
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Veteran Author Texas

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:07:39 AM

Do we want the white coats messing with maize genes? What happens if they screw up?
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Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:07:29 AM

This' really interesting research...
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All-Star Author Chicago

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:06:39 AM

No, no, no.

No more corn ethanol, and no GMOs in the food supply.
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Champion Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:06:24 AM

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?
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Champion Author Huntsville

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:05:15 AM

Until its done this is NT, not there, maybe never will be
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Champion Author Virginia Beach

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:05:11 AM

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.
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Champion Author Spokane

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:05:06 AM

Notice the lack of information on the down side of this.
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Champion Author Texas

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Message Posted: Nov 21, 2009 9:04:43 AM

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.
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