It all starts here 4

Via GeekPress comes word of edible cotton. From The New Scientist:

Cotton that has been genetically engineered so its seed is no longer toxic could provide protein-rich food for poor countries. The researchers say the technology used could make other toxic plants safe to eat.

Cottonseed contains about 22% protein, and the cotton already produced worldwide has enough protein to meet the requirements of 500 million people. But it also contains the toxin gossypol, making it poisonous to animals, including humans.

In people, gossypol lowers blood potassium to dangerous levels, resulting in fatigue and even paralysis. A surprising side effect is that gossypol is an effective male contraceptive, but research on this aspect was abandoned in the late 1990s. Attempts to eliminate gossypol from cotton plants in the 1960s and 1970s failed: insects that had previously been kept at bay by the toxin happily ate the modified plant.

And speaking of part 4, here’s a photo I took of the field on Sunday. Now you can see why I said this cotton could be scooped or raked rather than picked. Does this look yummy? Maybe if you haven’t had lunch. Under comments in part three, Tom said he’d eaten roasted cotton seeds and that they were quite tasty. In case you wonder, Tom has fathered two children.

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3 comments

  1. Sarita Raye says:

    Under comments in part three, Tom said he’d eaten roasted cotton seeds and that they were quite tasty. In case you wonder, Tom has fathered two children.

    For some reason, this made me laugh out loud. I love your sense of humor.

  2. Kathleen says:

    Bittersweet…the phrasing of that wasn’t so simple. Tom’s daughter, a lovely lovely woman (his best friend) was murdered about four years ago so I couldn’t say he has two children, and saying he “had” two children was too close since I knew the truth of it.

    Tom has a sense of humor and would be GLAD to know you enjoyed that. He’s a pretty cool guy.

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