Can we engineer life? 4.8 Plant gene technology, the photosynthesis boost

Photosynthesis is one of the most important biological processes on earth, if not the most important one: no life without photosynthesis! The Rubisco enzyme plays a key role in this process. But from the viewpoint of modern agricultural science, the photosynthesis process is far from perfect. So commentators devoted much hyperbolic praise on a publication in Science, January 4 this year, that reported a 40% ‘boost’ in biomass production after genetic modification of the tobacco plant. These exaggerated formulations annoyed me, as they showed so clearly the arrogance with which we humans treat nature.