US govt investigates duckweed DNA

edie.net
15 July 2008

Scientists at the US Department of Energy's laboratories will begin sequencing duckweed DNA in an effort to tap its potential to clean up water pollution.

The humble aquatic plant has been chosen as one of 44 projects that the department's Joint Genome Institute (JGI) will take on in the next year to investigate potential bioenergy and environmental uses for common plants and microbes. Greater Duckweed, or Spirodela polyrhiza, grows to less than 10mm but can be used to test water toxicity, clean wastewater and feed animals.

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