American biotechnology company Bioglow has developed ornamental glowing plants that are truly the first of its kind.
Applying synthetic biology to plants, Bioglow claims that its ‘Starlight Avatar’ is able to emit a glow from its stem and leaves similar to that of fireflies and other bioluminescent organisms.
Bioglow founder Alex Krichevsky is a microbiology expert who combined DNA from luminescent marine bacteria with the chloroplast genome of a common houseplant to create the ‘Starlight Avatar’.
Krichevsky is currently working to increase the brightness of these plants. He believes that his technique could shake up the ornamental plant market, provoking a shift in lighting design, allowing his plant to be used as efficient light sources for interiors, architecture or transport infrastructure.
[via Bloomberg Businessweek]