Making Tires from Dandelions

Feb-19-13 Dutch researchers are working on developing a hybrid dandelion that could one day have us driving around on dandelion tires.

The roots of the dandelion contain latex, the source for natural rubber, but most dandelions are far too small to be used in commercial production. To create a version with a fatter root and higher yield, the Dutch firm KeyGene is crossing the Russian dandelion with the common dandelion. The firm will not use genetic modification, choosing instead to use DNA profiling technologies by analyzing greenhouse-grown specimens and speeding up the natural breeding system.

The demand for rubber is expected to outstrip supply by 20 percent by 2020.

Image: Roberto Valdés

More Info about this Invention:

[CNN.COM]
[KEYGENE]

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