Science, Technology and Society 361: "Mars Exploration" -- Fall 2010

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Space Spuds

"Space Spuds" are currently the culinary fad to hit Shanghai. These slightly sweet and purple potatoes named Purple Orchid Three are bred from seeds that mutated while being carried aboard a Chinese spacecraft. The Chinese space program claims to have produced numerous mutated fruits and vegetables by exposing seeds to space radiation, capsule pressure, and weightlessness. Some experts claims that food grown from these seeds can be hardier, more nutritious, and produce higher yields. I found it interesting that the Chinese have taken the next step and produced genetically modified foods in space.

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