Revolution in the field

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When it was first developed, a hundred years ago, Triticale was a disappointment. or one thing, like the mule, it was sterile. This is because, even though the parent plants were closely enough relatéd to breed, their chromosomes* did not match enough for germ cells (egg and sperm cells) to be produced.

For this to happen, and breeding to take place, any plant or animal has to have two complete sets of matching chromosomes. These are shared out between the germ cells, so each has one complete set. Then, when a sperm cell and an egg cell join together, the resulting fertilised egg has two complete sets of chromosomes If the chromosomes don't match, the mechanism that shares them out seems to get snarled up:

This problem was solved for Triticale by the discovery of a drug called colchicine (obtained from crocuses). This drug causes plants to double all their chromosomes, so Triticale now has two complete sets from its wheat parent and two from its rye parent -and can breed.

Lots more selective breeding and research was needed, though, before the originally feeble Triticale developed into the present variety - short, strong, hardy and quite highyielding.

Importantly for the Third World poor, Triticale grows well in harsh environments - better than wheat in parched and sterile earth (often all that's left to the peasantry after agribusiness has had its pick!), and it doesn't need expensive irrigation. It can also tolerate the salty soils that result from years of artificial irrigation and it doesn't need harvesting with expensive equipment.

Triticale contains 13% protein, the same as wheat. But the protein is more valuable-as it contains a better selection of aminu acids (the brilding bloçks for proteins).

It is also resistant to many diseases of wheat and so needs less expensive fungicide treatment.

The, Triticale story looks like having a different outcome from the 'Green Revolution", where highyeilding varieties of rice A FRIEND remarked recently how much healthier she was after moving from a very damp flat to a dry one and a news item in last week's New Scientist suggests one possible explanation for this.

A survey of some 250 homes in various parts of England found the vast majority to be contaminated with bacteria from the human gut lenterobacteria) as well as various others, including some known as the pseudomonads.

Both groups of bacteria are usually harmless. For example, the enterobacteria live peacefully in our guts and do no harm -they even do good, by prevneeded lots of fertilisers and pesticides for a successful harvest - which only the rich peasants could afford!

*In all living things (except bacteria and viruses) the DNA or genetic code) is too long to exist as one thread. So it is enting harmful bacteria getting established. However, in the wrong place, they may cause illness, particularly where resistance is low.

The enterobacteria are often found causing cystitis and may cause acute gastroenteritis, infantile diarrhoea, pneumonia, wound infections and blood infections.

The pseudomonads are normally harmless skin bacteria but can cause infections in those with low resistance. They are a particular problem in hospitals, where people with low resistance (because they are already ill) are gathered together so as to reduce NHS overheads. split up into more manageable chunks, called chromosomes. Each chromosome carries a certain number of genes, the individual sentences of the genetic code, so a chromosome is a bit like a separate chapter.

Other more harmful bacteria may also contaminate these homes, probably brought in on meat products (e.g. Salmonella bacteria which can cause food poisoning, typhoid, etc).

The houses in the survey were not contaminated throughout. Bacteria find it difficult to survive in dry areas. They favour set areas in kitchens and bathrooms - particularly sinks, baths, cloths, and nappy buckets.

Obviously, we're not all suffering from pneumonia and diarrhoea, but the more bacteria there are, the more chance of even healthy adult catching something.

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ON WEDNESDAY night, bably mentally ill. Colin's Muhammed Idrish 12th, a friend gave Colin friends and family insist Roach a lift from his home that he was certainly not in Bow to visit his brother mentally ill, and showed no Suspected 'illegal immigrants' are facing not only threats by the Home Office to deport National Day of Action STOP THE DEPORTATIONS! TAKE BAG THIS RAGIST BILL •DONT LET BRITAIN SPINESUR Socialist no.11 ASSOGATIN ROCKDALL / January

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by Les Hearn