Chapter 937: Advantages and Disadvantages of Genetically Modified Plants
Indeed, the price difference of satellites is really huge. A typical small satellite may cost hundreds of thousands or even millions to be developed and manufactured. However, some large satellites often require hundreds of millions of dollars in R&D and manufacturing costs.
However, large satellites like this are generally used for military purposes. For example, Laomi's military communication satellites, military reconnaissance satellites and some military satellites with special functions have a research and development cost of up to a billion dollars.
As for the prices of some commercial satellites ranging from high to low, the hundreds of millions of dollars quoted by Lao Ma are actually relatively normal.
It can be seen that both Penguin and ALi have their own development plans in the aerospace field. It is no wonder that both companies have their own commercial map business, which they learned from G Song. The reason why the two companies have their own commercial map business
The main reason why the company's map business lags behind that of G Song is that it does not have its own optical remote sensing satellite.
Secondly, in the field of business communications, this is also the focus of the two companies. Compared with Lao Ma, Xiao Ma is more eager. This move will greatly promote their expansion of overseas business and is also a new step in their business development.
direction.
As for Lao Ma, they also have this intention. Moreover, Lao Ma is more inclined to the commercial satellite communication business and has a strong interest in it.
Faced with the two people's enthusiasm, Wu Hao naturally introduced them to the details very enthusiastically and patiently. This was a very high-quality potential customer, how could Wu Hao let it go so easily.
I didn't stay at the launch site for long. On the one hand, I didn't want to disturb the on-site technicians who were making final preparations too much. On the other hand, the pure northwest wind outside made everyone's faces turn red from the wind.
So everyone left immediately and returned to the base. After taking a short rest in the lounge and drinking hot tea to warm themselves up, everyone continued to visit under the guidance of Wu Hao.
This time Wu Hao took them to visit the Biology and Life Sciences Laboratory, which Lao Ma wanted to see very much. However, because of the large number of visitors, the laboratory did not open experimental subjects in life sciences and animal research, but instead introduced everyone to
We arrived at a huge glass greenhouse.
As soon as you walk into the greenhouse, it feels like it's spring. The climate is humid and warm, and the birds are singing and the flowers are fragrant. The scientific researchers have raised several parrots in the greenhouse here. They are everyone's favorites and are very lovable.
"Dr. Yang, I'm disturbing your work." Wu Hao said with a smile as he looked at Yang Fang, who was wearing a white lab coat and had a hot figure and a pretty face.
"Haha, it doesn't matter." Yang Fang shook her head at Wu Hao, then smiled at Erma and said: "Teacher Ma, Mr. Ma, you are welcome to visit our Haoyu Institute of Biological and Life Sciences and Northwest Research Center.
The greenhouse you are seeing now is the species cultivation center of our drought-tolerant plant cultivation project. Of course, some plants from other projects will also be cultivated here.
I am here to mainly introduce to you the basic situation of our entire drought-tolerant plant cultivation project."
Seeing Erma nodded, Yang Fang introduced to everyone with a smile: "Our drought-tolerant plant cultivation project was established at the suggestion of Mr. Wu, and I myself was also appreciated by Mr. Wu to be responsible for the research and development of this project.
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As the name suggests, the main topic or goal of our project is to use biological gene editing and transgenic methods to research and cultivate drought-tolerant plants.
Different from general drought-tolerant plants, we hope to cultivate new plant varieties suitable for growing in arid areas, which can prevent wind and sand and improve the ecological environment.
Let’s take an ongoing project. Everyone knows that the growth rate of moso bamboo is very fast. Basically, in just ten hours, the bamboo shoots of moso bamboo can emerge from the ground and grow several meters or even as high as 10 meters in a very short period of time.
In more than ten seconds, a new moso bamboo is formed.
In addition, moso bamboo grows very quickly. In just a few years, a dense bamboo forest can be formed, which is ideal for wind and sand prevention.
Moreover, the root system of moso bamboo is also very developed. Not only can the root system be connected into one piece, but it can also go deep into the ground for more than ten meters or even tens of meters.
However, this kind of bamboo is not frost-resistant and is not suitable for growing in the north. Once the temperature is too low, the moso bamboo may freeze to death.
Secondly, this kind of bamboo is not suitable for growing in arid areas. It likes moisture and generally grows in relatively humid areas with abundant rainfall.
Therefore, our goal is to use biological gene editing and transgenic technology to transfer some drought-tolerant genes from drought-tolerant plants into moso bamboo, so that moso bamboo can adapt to the growth and survival in arid areas.
In addition, there is also reverse engineering. That is to extract the fast growth genes from moso bamboo and then transfer them into some drought-tolerant plants and crops to accelerate the growth of these plants and crops.
Maybe you can’t understand what I said, so let’s give another example or hypothesis.
If we successfully develop this technology, we can completely transfer this fast-growing gene into some trees with excellent wood. In this way, we can cultivate some high-quality tree varieties with faster growth speed, thereby obtaining a
A stable and environmentally friendly wood output.
Or, we can transfer this fast-growing gene into some tall crops and pasture, so that we can provide high-quality and low-cost pasture and silage fodder for the livestock industry. Not only can it reduce the cost of animal husbandry, but it can also
To a great extent, the contradiction between animal husbandry and environmental protection can be solved.
Of course, there are many such examples, and we also hope to apply this technology to more fields to benefit all mankind."
After hearing Yang Fang's introduction, Lao Ma and Xiao Ma also showed very interested expressions on their faces.
As for the quick-thinking Xiao Ma, he immediately asked a very sharp and direct question: "At present, the safety of such genetically modified plants and crops has not been verified. How to ensure that these plants and crops will not be contaminated after they appear?"
It will have an impact on the local ecology, even cause serious consequences, and ultimately threaten us humans."
The question raised by Xiao Ma is also a question that is often asked about genetically modified technology. It is also one of the main reasons why genetically modified technology cannot be promoted on a large scale.
In fact, whether we like it or not, genetically modified technology has penetrated deeply into our daily lives. For example, some of the food we eat may be genetically modified crops.
In addition to this kind of direct food, such as the vegetable oil, soy sauce, vinegar, and wine that everyone consumes daily, as well as the soy products you eat, such as tofu, yuba, and the spicy strips you consume, there may be genetically modified crops among them.
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The raw materials in these foods, such as soybeans, corn, sesame, peanuts, and rice, may all be genetically modified crops.
