The protein present in sugar beets can be used to produce artificial blood. The process of extracting hemoglobin from beet is not nearly as simple as extracting sugar from it, say Swedish scientists from Lund University.
– Sugar beet hemoglobin is very similar to the human protein. The difference is minimal, but it makes beet hemoglobin more permanent, which is good news, the researchers explain.
However, hemoglobin in plants has a completely different function – it binds nitric oxide.
Swedish scientists have announced that they will start testing an animal model in the near future.
Based on: Science News / University of Lund
Author: Tomasz Kobosz