Has Anyone Seen This?

[cadbrowser]

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ant ... electricit

I saw a news report on it and had to go to the source to see what was going on. I just think this is immensely fascinating.

News report link : http://news.yahoo.com/glowing-plants-cr ... 00085.html

Of course there is a lot of hub-bub and "controversy" surrounding this; which I don't understand the objections raised. I t sounds like these guys are doing everything right; understanding the regulations, inquiring government agencies to make sure they do it right and etc.

What do you all think would be the ratio of success for these guys to pull this off?

[madd0ct0r]

oh these guys!

I met them when I was in SF. pretty cool, although it was funny how the gene modding was outsourced to china.

[cadbrowser]

WOW, no kidding! You got to meet them? That's pretty awesome. Hey, they raised almost $500K on an idea. I'd say not too bad!

Why is it "...funny how the gene modding was outsourced to china."? Is that a bad thing or ???

[madd0ct0r]

more amusing as a sign of how quickly industry is changing.

they described it as "You send it out there and they can do it for much cheaper, but they'll copy your idea and do their own version on the side"

[kitty]

most products have something in them that was made in china, but that's for another thread.
As for the idea of glowing plants. Now that would be something to see and would be great especially in the small artsy towns I lived around as a teen.

[Thanas]

This idea sounds pretty bad.

[madd0ct0r]

care to elaborate?

[Thanas]

I don't really see the need for it, nor do I see a way to reliably prevent crossing with non-modified plants (unless you make them infertile and thus deliver yourself to the mercy of the gentech corp).

[Zixinus]

Plus, you'll be changing the maintaince cost of having lights from "electricity, changing bulbs and very rarely repair" to "having to constantly water and feed with fertilizer".

They'd be great for decoration and indoor furnishing though.

[salm]

I have several plants at home which grow fine but are never treated with fertilizer. Why would these plants need fertilizer more than normal house plants?

[Guardsman Bass]

I don't really see the need for it, nor do I see a way to reliably prevent crossing with non-modified plants (unless you make them infertile and thus deliver yourself to the mercy of the gentech corp).

They're gimmick plants for decorative purposes, so I don't think most people will be too upset if they have to buy seeds to plant more of them because the plants are sterile on their own.

I'd love to have one of them, if or when they go on sale.

[madd0ct0r]

I don't really see the need for it, nor do I see a way to reliably prevent crossing with non-modified plants (unless you make them infertile and thus deliver yourself to the mercy of the gentech corp).

Thanas, they're ornametnal. toys. of course there's no fricking need for it, toy soldiers, clothing other then denim dungarees and so on.

I'm guessing they'll have to be sterile for import conditions, but don't quote me on that.

[Thanas]

Oh, my bad. I thought this was a proposal to replace street lights.

[someone_else]

was wondering when the jellyfish genes would end up in some cool thing like this, as glowing puppies would be too controversial to sell. (and a pain to import if they come from china... Italian Customs: huh, live animals from china? Where did we put the flamethrowers?)

For the sake of curiosity, what would be the bad effects of these things crossbreeding? I wouldn't mind to live in a more Avatar-ish world.

[MrDakka]

was wondering when the jellyfish genes would end up in some cool thing like this, as glowing puppies would be too controversial to sell. (and a pain to import if they come from china... Italian Customs: huh, live animals from china? Where did we put the flamethrowers?).

I'm surprised there's no Sheldon references so far with his glow-in-the dark goldfish nightlights.

[cadbrowser]

Oh, my bad. I thought this was a proposal to replace street lights.

I think one of the possible applications was for this in the future.

Still not understanding your objection tho.

[Zixinus]

I have several plants at home which grow fine but are never treated with fertilizer. Why would these plants need fertilizer more than normal house plants?

Simple: because of bioluminescence, these plants are likely spend a significant part of their enemy emitting light.

I'd guess that you don't need to treat them with fertilizer and grow fine because you put them in rich soil. But these plants will both glow and grow. I admit that I am only guessing, but I wouldn't be surprised if they needed more input energy than a regular plant.