Antibodies made in plants can mop up traces of pesticides in the water that
runs off farmers’ fields, according to researchers at the University of Aberdeen
and at Axis Genetics in Cambridge. The researchers engineered tobacco plants to
produce sheep antibodies against the pesticide atrazine. They say that these
“plantibodies” could cost as little as 50p a gram to make, and that
£5000-worth of plantibodies will be able to filter 50 million litres of
water a day.
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features

Technology
US government wants to have a useful quantum computer by 2028
News

Life
Childbirth for many primate species is even harder than for humans
News

Humans
Humans sleep the least of all apes – is it the secret to our success?
Features

91É«Ç鯬
Your menstrual cycle may affect how well vaccines work
News
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
Where, when and how to watch the 2026 solar eclipse
2
Humans sleep the least of all apes – is it the secret to our success?
3
Remote-controlled cockroach swarm can now breathe underwater
4
If you aren't terrified by this heatwave, you should be
5
Our verdict on The Selfish Gene: An unpopular piece of popular science
6
We’ve uncovered a master gene that switches on human development
7
US government wants to have a useful quantum computer by 2028
8
The best sci-fi novel in 2026 so far – plus 6 other great reads
9
How menopause radically changes the brain – and what happens after
10
Fossil fruits show flowering plants flourished in time of dinosaurs