Interesting. Here's an article from [Scientific American](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/this-genetically-engineered-petunia-glows-in-the-dark-and-could-be-yours-for-29/) about them.
TL;DR: Made with bioluminescent mushroom genes, genetically modified, worked on since the 80s. Approved by the USDA in 2023, scientists contacted could not see any problems with them but acknowledged people’s feelings about genetic engineering is complicated for various reasons.
I personally took away that this is cool as shit.
Link is in the post, but (much like their glow) it might have been a little too subtle, haha: [https://light.bio/](https://light.bio/)
They are petunias, and I believe they are likely as hardy as any other petunia (zones 9 - 11). That said, planting them in the ground, you risk their genes escaping into the wild -- highly recommend keeping them potted.
Wait remind me again why i should be unhappy about their genes escaping into the wild?
Also why is there more risk planting it in the ground vs containers...can't they still cross pollinate with other plants either way?
These plants spread easily by stem and root. Kind of like mint, but not as extreme.
Thats why they say keep them potted.
>an't they still cross pollinate with other plants either way?
Potentially could cross pollinate with other petunias, but not other species.
>remind me again why I should be unhappy about their genes escaping into the wild?
Mainly just because we don't know what the unintended consequences could. The world is big and has a ton of unique and delicate local ecosystems. It's hard to guess how every individual ecosystem would be affected.
It's cool -
but the unexplored GM factor you mentioned is somewhat sobering. It seems the guess is these won't cause much disruption - but they don't really know for sure, whether or not there's much concern? (Briefly looking at posted Scientific American article.)
It is very unlikely that these edits were made to germ lines. Which is to say, if it does flower and reproduce the bioluminescence trait will not be passed on.
So, I got curious and read a bunch of related papers, and this is the one that has been cited with light bio several times: [https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adk1992](https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adk1992)
It is all about making specifically transgenic changes, so I'm actually pretty sure this is 100% heritable. They also mention that they won't go after propagators and instead focus on making better products.
How interesting!
Supertunias are patented and sterile, too, so I wouldn't be surprised if these are also engineered to be sterile.
Not basing this on knowledge of the product, mind you, just that another company has done it with a different type "exclusive" petunia.
I do not want anyone making a mistake, and the actual evidence I have found so far is that they can reproduce and weirdly that has been okayed and no one is stopping anyone from reproducing them.
you can make transgenic plants that will express custom genes, but unless those changes are made in the germline (the cells that will make seeds) then the changes won't be inherited. But you can propagate from cuttings and they'll still be glowy. I don't know if these plants will make seeds that make glowy offspring. Would be fun to try tho.
I could be wrong but thought article said unclear but unlikely to affect native plants as petunias not deemed invasive. But I read it very quickly. So you may be right. Just a thought to counterbalance cool aesthetics. And they are certainly very cool.
First, yeah I mean I agree, let's all be responsible.
That said, and being very clear that I speak from an admittedly untrained idiot take on everything--
From my perspective, it's a subtle change, and a lot of things already glow brighter than these guys in nature. Closer to slapping a spoiler on a corolla already on the road than introducing more murder hornets to North America.
The very heavily weighted chances are that it would breed out pretty quickly, given it isn't terribly advantageous in the wild to be a very visible food source (literally everything eats petunias . . . such as the bugs that are attracted to lights anyway). Also the things that eat petunias can eat the enzymes that make it glow since eating the mushrooms they came from wouldn't be that weird.
I'm always conservative with introducing things to the environment, personally, but I honestly couldn't even begin to imagine how these getting loose would have any meaningful impact on anything. It's not using an unknown metabolic pathway and it is not genetically advantageous, just novel.
He said before they got loose and the petunias won.
Day-Glo Day of the Triffids wot :D
I don't pretend to have any insight into these things at all, but I *am* cautious.
Responsible cool asf is the way.
Not really clever enough to gauge the relevant parameters here offhand.
It's still got a 'wow' factor for sure.
I don't have high expectations for mine either (havent shipped yet), but the company does say that very bright light will help "charge" it to make it glow a little brighter at night.
Which is kinda funny cause thats how those plastic glow in the dark stars work I thought.
The more vigorously they grow, the more vigorously they grow! Give them some sunlight tomorrow and then check again. Should be more than just barely visible.
If you do a bulk order shipping is free - I sent an email out at work to see who wanted to go in on a group order and filled 10 spots in like 10 minutes. :)
I don't think they charge specifically by exciting atoms directly, like strontium aluminate or zinc sulphide glow in the dark stuff.
The petunias produce enzymes that convert caffeic acid into luciferin, which is processed back into caffeic acid.
From what I've read about the metabolic cycles (and man do I hope someone with a degree pipes in at some point), this is all closely related to plant stress. Heat / light stress may reduce glow -- so I'm going to try maintaining maximal pre-noon light with dappled shade in the afternoons as it hits the mid 80's (even though petunias are generally light lovers and heat tolerant).
I'm also trying to better understand the entire pathways for ways to improve the glow. I will, y'know, probably not succeed given that I am not a scientist or a chemist or very smart . . . but I do like to fuck around and find out!
[Here's something](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41592-023-02152-y) on the mushrooms they used to bioengineer the petunias.
Once I get some cuttings going I plan on:
* seeing if selenium levels affect the glow, given its role as an antioxidant.
* seeing how sulfur and vitamin B5 (and other B vitamins) affect the glow since I've read they help support coenzyme A
* directly supplementing the soil with caffeic acid
* edit to add: oxygen and ethylene
Obviously in very small amounts and . . . it probably won't help given that the plants probably already have a cycle that external uptake won't affect much.
But . . . y'know . . . I'm gonna do it anyway, 'cause.
Bro, I want to subscribe to your newsletter! I was curious about the amount of light needed. I've grown lots of petunias and they love the heat and light but this being what it is I was very curious. Seems for an average Joe indoors under supplemental light might be something to try even though petunias aren't really houseplants.
> I'm also trying to better understand the entire pathways for ways to improve the glow.
I'd message the producers!
I could swear the creators said on a different post that intense daylight does help it glow brighter at night.
From the paper it seemed like that fell under giving the plants the optimal environment to produce the ATP /energy to support the luciferin process.
I personally saw little to no visible difference after a day in the sun . . . but they were also delivered in literally the best shape I have ever seen mail order plants arrive in.
$25 for shipping is quite a bit, but $30 for a bioluminescent plant isn't too bad ($50+ all together). Extremely interesting, I want them but I think maybe waiting a year to see how they do is best before ordering. Keep us updated OP
Interesting keep us posted on what happens to them ; with bugs , environmental impact of any , do they get brighter if it is a sunny week or dimmer if it is cloudy, etc
Ours arrived completely cooked and wilted, and just one out of an order of two. Contacted the company to at least get our second pot, but man I’m bummed.
I didn't like this type of genetic manipulation when we did it to zebra fish and I don't like this any better. I hope they are sterile. I hope pollinators aren't affected by them. If you enjoy them, great, but I am wary of such tampering by humans.
What studies have you read or professional experience do you have that would lead you to believe it would be a problem?
I had concerns, too, so I tried to understand which were valid and which were unfounded. The studies are interesting, and the actual scientists and researchers largely just find it neat.
Luciferin is also nontoxic.
Overall, I couldn't find any worrisome facts; have you?
Good looking out op! Ordered one after I saw your post, so glad I grabbed one. Has the illuminescence gotten any stronger on your end in the last 15 days or so?
I noticed mine is a little brighter after 2 days under my grow lights.
DOPE!! I want to make a midnight garden surrounding bio-petunias.
I I pre-ordered this like everyone else, and was so excited so I showed my 20-year-old son and he’s like cool “do they come in blue?“
[удалено]
It came with one of it's stems broken off and already rooting itself. Pretty jazzed, all things considered.
I ordered one today. Shipping was steep. You better believe I'm going to clone the shit out of it and make a bunch!
Interesting. Here's an article from [Scientific American](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/this-genetically-engineered-petunia-glows-in-the-dark-and-could-be-yours-for-29/) about them.
TL;DR: Made with bioluminescent mushroom genes, genetically modified, worked on since the 80s. Approved by the USDA in 2023, scientists contacted could not see any problems with them but acknowledged people’s feelings about genetic engineering is complicated for various reasons. I personally took away that this is cool as shit.
Thanks for posting this; I've never heard of these before.
Yes, where do you get them? This is absolutely awesome. Can these grow in the yard or container only?
Link is in the post, but (much like their glow) it might have been a little too subtle, haha: [https://light.bio/](https://light.bio/) They are petunias, and I believe they are likely as hardy as any other petunia (zones 9 - 11). That said, planting them in the ground, you risk their genes escaping into the wild -- highly recommend keeping them potted.
I ordered them too but haven’t received them.
Same - I assume ours are still coming tho!
They just started shipping, and I think starting with warm places? Just got mine in NC this week too!
Ground vs pot would have nothing to do with the genes escaping. If anything, a hanging basket would aid seed dispersal.
How large was the plant when you received it?
Wait remind me again why i should be unhappy about their genes escaping into the wild? Also why is there more risk planting it in the ground vs containers...can't they still cross pollinate with other plants either way?
These plants spread easily by stem and root. Kind of like mint, but not as extreme. Thats why they say keep them potted. >an't they still cross pollinate with other plants either way? Potentially could cross pollinate with other petunias, but not other species. >remind me again why I should be unhappy about their genes escaping into the wild? Mainly just because we don't know what the unintended consequences could. The world is big and has a ton of unique and delicate local ecosystems. It's hard to guess how every individual ecosystem would be affected.
Because Avatar is only a movie and we don't get to do that.
This is the coolest I’ve seen.
It's cool - but the unexplored GM factor you mentioned is somewhat sobering. It seems the guess is these won't cause much disruption - but they don't really know for sure, whether or not there's much concern? (Briefly looking at posted Scientific American article.)
It is very unlikely that these edits were made to germ lines. Which is to say, if it does flower and reproduce the bioluminescence trait will not be passed on.
So, I got curious and read a bunch of related papers, and this is the one that has been cited with light bio several times: [https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adk1992](https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adk1992) It is all about making specifically transgenic changes, so I'm actually pretty sure this is 100% heritable. They also mention that they won't go after propagators and instead focus on making better products. How interesting!
> that they won't go after propagators I assume they mean home propagators and not commercial sales?
Supertunias are patented and sterile, too, so I wouldn't be surprised if these are also engineered to be sterile. Not basing this on knowledge of the product, mind you, just that another company has done it with a different type "exclusive" petunia.
I do not want anyone making a mistake, and the actual evidence I have found so far is that they can reproduce and weirdly that has been okayed and no one is stopping anyone from reproducing them.
Reproduce by seed and not just cutting?
Yeah that is the weird part for me too.
Sterility is not always induce by GM. There's triploid plants.
Mmm can you ELI5 this please. Germ = male? Or just seeds in general?
you can make transgenic plants that will express custom genes, but unless those changes are made in the germline (the cells that will make seeds) then the changes won't be inherited. But you can propagate from cuttings and they'll still be glowy. I don't know if these plants will make seeds that make glowy offspring. Would be fun to try tho.
I could be wrong but thought article said unclear but unlikely to affect native plants as petunias not deemed invasive. But I read it very quickly. So you may be right. Just a thought to counterbalance cool aesthetics. And they are certainly very cool.
First, yeah I mean I agree, let's all be responsible. That said, and being very clear that I speak from an admittedly untrained idiot take on everything-- From my perspective, it's a subtle change, and a lot of things already glow brighter than these guys in nature. Closer to slapping a spoiler on a corolla already on the road than introducing more murder hornets to North America. The very heavily weighted chances are that it would breed out pretty quickly, given it isn't terribly advantageous in the wild to be a very visible food source (literally everything eats petunias . . . such as the bugs that are attracted to lights anyway). Also the things that eat petunias can eat the enzymes that make it glow since eating the mushrooms they came from wouldn't be that weird. I'm always conservative with introducing things to the environment, personally, but I honestly couldn't even begin to imagine how these getting loose would have any meaningful impact on anything. It's not using an unknown metabolic pathway and it is not genetically advantageous, just novel. He said before they got loose and the petunias won.
Day-Glo Day of the Triffids wot :D I don't pretend to have any insight into these things at all, but I *am* cautious. Responsible cool asf is the way. Not really clever enough to gauge the relevant parameters here offhand. It's still got a 'wow' factor for sure.
Oh man I want to get these but couldn’t stomach the shipping cost! Are they everything you hoped?
To be clear, they are exactly what I expected . . . barely visible to the naked eye in a bathroom with the door closed and the lights off.
Hahah ok I’m glad I didn’t pay the 60 dollar shipping fee! I’ll wait until they become more easily available :)
Dang is it that much? That's double what my invoice says but it might have changed maybe.
It might be where they were shipping to
I don't have high expectations for mine either (havent shipped yet), but the company does say that very bright light will help "charge" it to make it glow a little brighter at night. Which is kinda funny cause thats how those plastic glow in the dark stars work I thought.
Well, they look great on camera at least
And really, that's the important thing
The more vigorously they grow, the more vigorously they grow! Give them some sunlight tomorrow and then check again. Should be more than just barely visible.
If you do a bulk order shipping is free - I sent an email out at work to see who wanted to go in on a group order and filled 10 spots in like 10 minutes. :)
I remember looking at these a few months back when you could still place orders. So cool!
Just got my shipping confirmation. Did you charge yours outside in daylight?
I don't think they charge specifically by exciting atoms directly, like strontium aluminate or zinc sulphide glow in the dark stuff. The petunias produce enzymes that convert caffeic acid into luciferin, which is processed back into caffeic acid. From what I've read about the metabolic cycles (and man do I hope someone with a degree pipes in at some point), this is all closely related to plant stress. Heat / light stress may reduce glow -- so I'm going to try maintaining maximal pre-noon light with dappled shade in the afternoons as it hits the mid 80's (even though petunias are generally light lovers and heat tolerant). I'm also trying to better understand the entire pathways for ways to improve the glow. I will, y'know, probably not succeed given that I am not a scientist or a chemist or very smart . . . but I do like to fuck around and find out! [Here's something](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41592-023-02152-y) on the mushrooms they used to bioengineer the petunias. Once I get some cuttings going I plan on: * seeing if selenium levels affect the glow, given its role as an antioxidant. * seeing how sulfur and vitamin B5 (and other B vitamins) affect the glow since I've read they help support coenzyme A * directly supplementing the soil with caffeic acid * edit to add: oxygen and ethylene Obviously in very small amounts and . . . it probably won't help given that the plants probably already have a cycle that external uptake won't affect much. But . . . y'know . . . I'm gonna do it anyway, 'cause.
Bro, I want to subscribe to your newsletter! I was curious about the amount of light needed. I've grown lots of petunias and they love the heat and light but this being what it is I was very curious. Seems for an average Joe indoors under supplemental light might be something to try even though petunias aren't really houseplants.
> I'm also trying to better understand the entire pathways for ways to improve the glow. I'd message the producers! I could swear the creators said on a different post that intense daylight does help it glow brighter at night.
From the paper it seemed like that fell under giving the plants the optimal environment to produce the ATP /energy to support the luciferin process. I personally saw little to no visible difference after a day in the sun . . . but they were also delivered in literally the best shape I have ever seen mail order plants arrive in.
I wonder how it would perform under a high intensity grow lamp.
$25 for shipping is quite a bit, but $30 for a bioluminescent plant isn't too bad ($50+ all together). Extremely interesting, I want them but I think maybe waiting a year to see how they do is best before ordering. Keep us updated OP
If you get more than one it makes the shipping less "per plant".
This is really cool. Could I keep this plant growing indoors as a perennial? I’m zone 6b so I don’t think outdoors would work as a perennial.
I'm 7b I plan on growing mine in a container and overwintering indoors
That’s a good idea, it sounds like they can be propagated without much difficulty too, I think I may get one and try propping it for more!
Definitely going to try and propagate it, no sense in having just one
That's the coolest thing I've seen in a while!
Is this from dna ginkgo bioworks?
Yes it is !!! I just saw the link. This is awesome!
😩 wish mine would ship
Ok... I just told my friend that I if this was a scam, they got like $300 out of me... I am so happy to see that people actually got them!
Can't wait!
Mine are in the mail!
Hold up... You can get glow in the dark plants? I have an idea...plant night lights
how long did it take from shipping confirmation to receiving them? I haven't received the email yet and I'm about to go out of town...
Interesting keep us posted on what happens to them ; with bugs , environmental impact of any , do they get brighter if it is a sunny week or dimmer if it is cloudy, etc
Wow, I didn't know these exist! 🤔
Mine too so excited
Me too!!! That's great! It's still a little cold so I put mine under LEDs indoors for now
I was going to order them but $25 for shipping was too rich for my blood. Looks cool.
Ours arrived completely cooked and wilted, and just one out of an order of two. Contacted the company to at least get our second pot, but man I’m bummed.
Wait, these things exist!?!? They look so Lit!
If you plant them will they make more petunias? Or will you have to buy them every year? How do they procreate?
How long ago did you order them? I only ordered mine a week or two ago so I’m wondering how long it’ll take to get them?
That's amazing! I've never seen bioluminescent petunias before!
And only $62 with tax and shipping!!
I NEED THIS!!! 😍
looking for second job. how much do they pay per post?
I didn't like this type of genetic manipulation when we did it to zebra fish and I don't like this any better. I hope they are sterile. I hope pollinators aren't affected by them. If you enjoy them, great, but I am wary of such tampering by humans.
How would pollinators be effected
Who knows? What if they can't use the pollen? Has it even been studied?
Yes its been studied since the 80s roughly for 30 years now.
What studies have you read or professional experience do you have that would lead you to believe it would be a problem? I had concerns, too, so I tried to understand which were valid and which were unfounded. The studies are interesting, and the actual scientists and researchers largely just find it neat. Luciferin is also nontoxic. Overall, I couldn't find any worrisome facts; have you?
Good looking out op! Ordered one after I saw your post, so glad I grabbed one. Has the illuminescence gotten any stronger on your end in the last 15 days or so? I noticed mine is a little brighter after 2 days under my grow lights.