Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: Paul Anderson on 03/03/2009 13:30:01

Title: Can plant mutations be transmitted to people?
Post by: Paul Anderson on 03/03/2009 13:30:01
Paul Anderson  asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Hi Chris and team,

We are what we eat. There is concern about mad cow disease.

If I eat a malformed apple, what are the chances that whatever caused the malformation might adapt to affect me in some adverse way?

Could there ever be a cross over from plant to human of diseases, etc?

When I bang my elbow, it bruises and then heals. A similar thing happens when a tree gets nicked on the trunk. A scab forms and it 'heals'.

However, drop a peach and it bruises and goes bad.
   
Comments?

Regards

Paul

NZ

What do you think?
Title: Can plant mutations be transmitted to people?
Post by: Kryptid on 04/03/2009 04:37:11
If you're worried that a mutated gene from a mutant plant might somehow get into your DNA and mutate you as well, then don't fret. Such a thing does no happen. The DNA in a mutated fruit will be digested in your stomach. Your cells have no mechanism of incorporating foreign DNA into their own genetic code. Viruses, however, may indeed be capable of doing this. Fruit, however, cannot.
Title: Can plant mutations be transmitted to people?
Post by: lyner on 05/03/2009 15:33:43
If we were to be susceptible to mutations from p[lants then we should also be susceptible to their regular genes. I haven't gone green or sprouted roots, yet so I think we don't need to worry.
Title: Can plant mutations be transmitted to people?
Post by: Don_1 on 05/03/2009 17:13:33
If we were to be susceptible to mutations from p[lants then we should also be susceptible to their regular genes. I haven't gone green or sprouted roots, yet so I think we don't need to worry.

Erm..... I think perhaps I'd best go see my doctor, or horticulturist!!!(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Fflowers%2F15.gif&hash=9a3b8d24ed3e064613052908fa4f2b85)
Title: Can plant mutations be transmitted to people?
Post by: thedoc on 18/05/2010 18:54:10
Go to the podcast page. (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/podcasts/show/2010.05.16/)
or [chapter podcast=2580 track=10.05.16/Naked_Scientists_Show_10.05.16_6278.mp3](https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenakedscientists.com%2FHTML%2Ftypo3conf%2Fext%2Fnaksci_podcast%2Fgnome-settings-sound.gif&hash=f2b0d108dc173aeaa367f8db2e2171bd) Listen to the Answer Now[/chapter] or [download as MP3] (http://nakeddiscovery.com/downloads/split_individual/10.05.16/Naked_Scientists_Show_10.05.16_6278.mp3)
Title: Can plant mutations be transmitted to people?
Post by: tangoblue on 21/05/2010 21:20:54
i would be a bit worried if that could happen  [:)] but luckily it really can not.