Danish Scientists Develop a Unique Method for the Detection of Landmines

[gf0012-aust]

After three years of research, Danish scientists have produced a genetically engineered plant, which, in the presence of specific compounds in the soil, can change color from green to red in a matter of weeks. Stimuli include the types of heavy metals and explosives present in landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO).

This unique biodetection system is described as ‘ a pioneering example of how we will see genetically engineered plants applied for humanitarian or environmental purposes in the future’ by professor John Mundy from the department of plant physiology at the University of Copenhagen.

Currently, the detection of landmines is a slow and laborious process using dogs and machines, and where results are only guaranteed if the process is carried out manually, square meter by square meter. Experts believe that there are more than 1 billion unexploded landmines in over 75 countries worldwide, and it is estimated that a landmine kills or injures someone every 20 minutes, usually children or teenagers.

This new technology, based on the genetic engineering of the plant Thale Cress (Arabidopsis thaliana) is a major development in the quest for a safe and cost effective solution to detecting landmines. The plants are modified in a way that only allows them to go red if triggered by a specific stimulus present in the soil. The resulting color change happens within three to five weeks.

The Thale Cress has been chosen specifically because it is a well studied genetic model system and it can grow all over the world. It is also naturally self pollinating and male-sterile which makes it more easily controllable.

The first field-scale experiments are due to take place in the next few months in Bosnia, Sri Lanka and Sub-Saharan Africa.

-ends-

 

[Winter]

That's the best news I've heard for a while now.

:frosty

 

[Aussie Digger]

I remember an old (and not particularly funny) story about the Australian armie's drill if you step on a landmine. The first thing you should do if you step on a landmine is to immediately throw yourself 200 meters straight up in the air and then spread yourself out over a large area. Crusty old Sergeants used to love that one... Hopefully this new procedure works, Landmines suck...

 

[gf0012-aust]

I remember an old (and not particularly funny) story about the Australian armie's drill if you step on a landmine. The first thing you should do if you step on a landmine is to immediately throw yourself 200 meters straight up in the air and then spread yourself out over a large area. Crusty old Sergeants used to love that one... Hopefully this new procedure works, Landmines suck...

There was a documentary of afghanistan the other night, they were saying that there are probably over 10 million landmines lying around from when russia invaded. unbelievable.

 

[Red aRRow]

Now why can't other countries give up their imperialistic goals and conduct research on these kind of topics instead of developing MOABs and Daisy cutters and other crap??? :?

 

[Majin-Vegeta]

well the funny thing is, they act like kids and say "you do it first!, no! u do it first" its the same with nukes, weapons, air force. No one wants to get rid of it first cuz thier scared , mines..pfft..i wouldnt use em if thier such a threat to the civilians..america REJECTED to sign the treaty to remove its mines..and it asks others to remove mines..america REJECTS to remove its nukes while attacks and threatens others to build them.. :eek i am shocked.

 

[The Watcher]

This is good. Maybe they can test this out in places like Bosnia, Afghanistan, etc. A lots of kids die/get injured in Afghanistan because of massive landmine net that Russian's layed out! :mad

 

[Red aRRow]

well the funny thing is, they act like kids and say "you do it first!, no! u do it first" its the same with nukes, weapons, air force. No one wants to get rid of it first cuz thier scared , mines..pfft..i wouldnt use em if thier such a threat to the civilians..america REJECTED to sign the treaty to remove its mines..and it asks others to remove mines..america REJECTS to remove its nukes while attacks and threatens others to build them.. :eek i am shocked.

You forgot to add that they didn't sign the treaty for war crimes and then were threatening to try Saddam Hussein for war crimes. :lolol :lolol

 

[Grand Danois]

Here's an update on this project.

The field testing in Africa failed. Not for technical reasons but because it couldn't be carried out... I can't remember why Bosnia came to naught.

They are now going to field test them at Amager Fælled. An old army practice range about 5 km from where I live. That should provide an adequate environment.

That is, if the GMO environmentalists don't succeed in stopping it in its tracks.

 

[RA1911]

I remember an old (and not particularly funny) story about the Australian armie's drill if you step on a landmine. The first thing you should do if you step on a landmine is to immediately throw yourself 200 meters straight up in the air and then spread yourself out over a large area. Crusty old Sergeants used to love that one... Hopefully this new procedure works, Landmines suck...

Actually that's a quote from "The Black Adder goes Forth" series.

 

[Aussie Digger]

Actually that's a quote from "The Black Adder goes Forth" series.

Never heard it on Blackadder, but I can assure you it is said in the Australian Army, whatever it's origin...

 

[TrangleC]

I have seen documentaries about scientists training bees to search for explosives (and thus for landmines). If that works, it might be more practical and less dangerous than planting mutant plants in large areas.

 

[erikjm71]

Lets be real, this wont work. First off all how are you going to get the plants in to the area where the mines are suppose to be(if you know exactly where they all are.) Remember someone is going to have to get in there to plant this thing. I dont see alot of volunteers for it. Then we will have to wait for it to grow. I can go on and on about this but I wont because I can guarantee it just wont happen. When it comes to mines you need to keep it simple. Mine detectors, probing, flailing, marking and blowing in place. Mines are nasty and if used according to doctrine and precisely recorded and accounted they are a legitimate weapon of war.
Yes landmines suck and if someone can come up with an idea to get rid of them by all means. But this is being wirtten by somone who knows landmine warfare and knows that this idea is very farfetched.

 

[PommeDeGuerre]

I have seen documentaries about scientists training bees to search for explosives (and thus for landmines). If that works, it might be more practical and less dangerous than planting mutant plants in large areas.

There's nothing particularly dangerous about "mutant plants" in general, unless they're unnaturally resiliant and fast spreading (in which case it might be an ecological nuisance), or something like that - no need to fear properly used biotechnology.

I thought I had heard something years back about genetically engineered bacteria that produce fluorescent pigments when exposed to trace amounts of explosives commen in land mines.

edit: of course the idea would be to spray an area known to have landmines with the bacteria, which would mark the mines by producing pigment.

 

[TrangleC]

OK, it doesn't have to be particulary dangerous to plant mutant plants somewhere, but generally it is always a problem to introduce a alien species into a habitat, mutant or no mutant.
In Europe we have many problems with alien flora and fauna since some time. For example north american river lobsters are displacing the european ones, or some kind of indian weed is spreading in german forests since a few years and they are already sending soldiers into the forests for the futile attempt to extinguish that stuff.
And the best example are the european rabbits in Australia.
Or remember how the africanized killerbees came to America...

You just can't forsee all the effects.

 

[PommeDeGuerre]

OK, it doesn't have to be particulary dangerous to plant mutant plants somewhere, but generally it is always a problem to introduce a alien species into a habitat, mutant or no mutant.
In Europe we have many problems with alien flora and fauna since some time. For example north american river lobsters are displacing the european ones, or some kind of indian weed is spreading in german forests since a few years and they are already sending soldiers into the forests for the futile attempt to extinguish that stuff.
And the best example are the european rabbits in Australia.
Or remember how the africanized killerbees came to America...

You just can't forsee all the effects.

As with everything, you have to weigh the costs and risks against the benefits. You can also take preventative measures, such as making the plants sterile so that only plants seeded intentionally will grow - apparently this is the case with this particular plant.

Sure we've damaged a lot of environments by introducing new animals, but we've also introduced lots of organisms into new environments without much damage and with immeasurable benefits. Pretty much any domesticated animal, for example. Almost plant grown for food has been altered by man for thousands of years through selective breeding and spread around the world to non-native environments.

There is also quite a lot of "genetic engineering" going on in nature - viruses take chunks of DNA from one organism, splice it into their own, and insert it into something else. This has been going on - in nature - for time immemorial.

It's easy to sit back in a first world country and think of the environment - it's not so easy when you're already worrying about your kids stepping on a landmine.