Hey there! 😊 Did you know that rice is one of the most important foods in the world? 🍚 But with rising temperatures, it’s getting harder to grow rice in some places. 🌞🌡️
Scientists in China have just made an amazing discovery! 🧑🔬 They’ve found a special gene called QT12 that helps rice plants survive in really hot weather. Isn’t that cool? 🌾🔥
So, how does it work? Well, when it’s super hot, QT12 teams up with some helpful proteins inside the rice plant. Together, they protect the rice grains from the heat, like a shield! 🛡️ This means the rice can still grow healthy and produce lots of grains, even when it’s hot outside. 🌱🌻
These scientists tested QT12 by adding it to a type of rice called “Huazhan” (that’s a kind of hybrid rice). They grew it in three different Chinese cities: Wuhan, Hangzhou, and Changsha. Guess what? The rice with QT12 grew up to 77.9% more grains than before! 😲 That’s a huge increase!
This discovery is super important because it can help farmers grow more rice, even when the weather is super hot. That means more food for everyone! 🥳 The scientists are now working with companies to use this gene in more rice plants. Pretty awesome, right?
Who knows, maybe one day you’ll be eating rice that’s grown with the help of this special gene! 🍽️ So next time you eat rice, remember the amazing science that helps bring it to your plate. 🍛✨
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
