Top Posts
Study shows climate change could make ‘droughts’ for...
Pakistan demands collective response in climate change fight
AfDB sets aside $40m to drive AGIA green...
Report: African cities move to address carbon-neutral development
Niger govt bans tree cutting, establishes agency to...
HEDA asks senate to hold IOCs accountable for...
FG issues flood alert for in 29 states,...
Lagos State Govt reassures residents over flash floods
NGO empowers women on climate resilience in Kaduna
Brazil launches COP30 accommodation platform after pressure from...
EcoNai Newsroom
  • Newsround
  • Nigeria
  • Africa
  • World
World

Researchers dig to see DNA can help modern-day crops cope with climate change

by admineconai May 6, 2024
written by admineconai May 6, 2024
474

Latest reports suggest that prehistoric plant DNA is being dug up from deep below the Arctic to see if it can assist modern-day crops cope with the effects of climate change.

According to reports, researchers from Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh are currently working with European scientists to analyse microbes from the palaeolithic period, when, like today, the planet was becoming warmer.

The university team has been awarded £500,000 by Horizon Europe, a European Union scientific research initiative, to spend four years examining ancient soil samples extracted from deep below the Arctic under a project named Tolerate.

Dr Ross Alexander, a plant molecular biologist at Heriot-Watt, said researchers were “using samples from the palaeolithic period, around 100-200,000 years ago, because the planet was warming then, much like now”. The aim, he said, was “to find out whether the plants, soil and bacteria of the past can help our current crops survive in a rapidly changing planet”.

Read also: Azerbaijan: Cop29 summit will call for peace between warring states

He said: “Drought is a particular concern for crops around the world,”. “According to the latest report of the European Drought Observatory, 47% of the EU is in warning conditions and 17% is in alert conditions. Cereal yields are decreasing by as much as 10% in some areas.”

The Heriot-Watt team will test samples taken by scientists at the Alfred Wegener Institute in Germany, to see if the ancient DNA can help present-day bacteria support plants when water is scarce.

Story was adapted from Sky News.

Climate changeCropsDNAPlantResearchers
0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
admineconai

previous post
Azerbaijan: Cop29 summit will call for peace between warring states
next post
UK installs many public electric vehicle chargers

Related Posts

Study shows climate change could make ‘droughts’ for...

August 18, 2025

Pakistan demands collective response in climate change fight

August 18, 2025

Brazil launches COP30 accommodation platform after pressure from...

August 7, 2025

Pakistan’s deadly floods worsened by global warming: study

August 7, 2025

Putin decree allows Russia to increase greenhouse gas...

August 7, 2025

New study shows climate change cancelling major events

August 4, 2025

ICJ says countries to be held accountable for...

August 4, 2025

Report shows PR firm working for Shell wins...

July 30, 2025

Study shows climate change could make ‘droughts’ for...

July 30, 2025

UN agency says deadly floods show need for...

July 22, 2025

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Newsletter

Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Bloglovin
  • Vimeo

@2021 - All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by Eco-Nai+

EcoNai Newsroom
  • Newsround
  • Nigeria
  • Africa
  • World