After much trial and tribulation, scientists have finally developed a safe way to grow blue roses. What was wrong with just putting white roses in a vase of water dyed blue with food coloring? Pfft, that's some unscientific bullshit, that's what.
Roses... timeless symbols of romance that come in a wide variety of colors from rich red through pretty pink to golden yellow and snowy white. But not blue... until now!
Geneticists from Australia's Florigene Ltd., a wholly owned (98.5%) subsidiary of Japanese drinks manufacturer Suntory Ltd., first cracked the code for creating blue roses in 2004. Since then, they have been refining the process to the point where true blue roses can be sold to a public eager to possess the once "impossible dream".
Examples of the roses on display in Tokyo displayed a soft mauve tint that Florigene scientists say is just the starting point for what will be a variety of bluish shades.
By inserting genes from the common Pansy and Iris into Rose DNA while at the same time switching off a Rose gene that prevented the production of the blue pigment known as "delphinidin", the legendary flower of love will be able to synthesize and express a full range of hues from palest baby blue to deep navy.
The blooms are genetically modified and have been implanted with a gene that simulates the synthesis of blue pigment in pansies. "They are attracting lots of attention here because they are so unusual."The creation of blue roses - long thought to be impossible - was masterminded by an Australian-based subsidiary of Suntory, a Japanese company.
A blue rose has long been synonymous with the unattainable, from signifying unrequited love in Chinese folklore to its Victorian era connotations of symbolizing a quest for the impossible.
According to a report in the Telegraph, the blooms are genetically modified and have been implanted with a gene that simulates the synthesis of blue pigment in pansies.
The blooms are genetically modified and have been implanted with a gene that simulates the synthesis of blue pigment in pansies.
The flowers, which were displayed at the International Flower Expo (IFEX) Tokyo, will go on sale commercially next autumn.
”This is the first time that these blue roses have been put on display in public,” according to Megumi Mitsunaga, a spokeswoman for IFEX. “They are attracting lots of attention here because they are so unusual,” she added.
The creation of the blue roses, which was long thought to be impossible, was masterminded by an Australian-based subsidiary of Suntory, a Japanese company.Though blue roses have been available in florists in recent years, but until now, they have been created by using various dying techniques to stain the petals of naturally white roses.
However, the Suntory roses are believed to be the first genetically modified blue rose creations.
The firm has invested three billion yen in the creation of blue roses, blue carnations and other blue flowers since 1990.
Its scientists successfully pioneered implanting the gene that produces Delphinidin, the primary plant pigment that produces a blue hue but is not found naturally in roses.
The world’s first genetically modified blue roses were created in the laboratory four years ago, although further research was required to make them safe to grow in nature.
Following the cultivation of test batches in the United States and America, the company will be ready to sell them from next year and aims to open up a global market for blue flowers worth an estimated 30 billion yen.
Your rose color lesson for the day:
Red: Love. Alternatively: I cheated on you.Pink: Gratitude. Alternatively: I cheated on you with the secretary. Twice.
Orange: Desire. Alternatively: I want somebody else but they're not having it, so l'd like to continue doing you in the interim.
Yellow: Friendship. Alternatively: you have a butter face.
White: Purity. Alternatively: I know you're a filthy whore, but let's pretend anyways.
Lavander: Enchantment. Alternatively: you should be burned at the stake!
Blue: Mystery. Alternatively: f*** you.
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