Arsenic Eaters

The Chinese brake fern (Pteris vittata) thrives on poison, absorbing levels of arsenic that would kill most organisms. The brake fern takes arsenic from the soil and chemically combines it with other compounds, then transports it to a part of the plant where it serves as a defense against hungry insects.

Plant researchers have isolated three genes that seem to be responsible for this surprising ability. If these genes were to be spliced into other plants, they could serve as new ways to clean up contaminated environments—a serious health problem in many parts of the world.

Scientists continue to be amazed by the abilities God has provided plants to thrive in a sin-cursed world. And by his grace, we can consider ways to adapt these abilities to help us relieve human suffering, as we exercise our God-given dominion over creation.

This article was taken from Answers magazine, January–February, 2020, 22.