WIRED Staff
Science

Slideshow: Tweaking Plants for Better Health

A new technology could increase the nutrition in some plants and reduce the elements that trigger allergies. It manipulates genetics without the controversy that plagues transgenic plants. By Tracy Powell.
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Seeds derived from mutant soybeans are loaded on a plot planter by geneticist Niels Nielsen (middle) and his research assistants.Photo: Courtesy of the USDA

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Technician Scott Johnson (left) and geneticist Niels Nielsen identify a mutant after decoding a pool of mutant DNAs.

Photo: Courtesy of the USDA
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DNA prepared from each mutant plant is examined to identify mutant genes. Here, biologist Rae Ritchie collects leaf punchouts that will be used for DNA isolation.

Photo: Courtesy of the USDA
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Geneticist Niels Nielsen inspects soybeans, which have been soaking in preparation for planting.

Photo: Courtesy of the USDA