U.S. scientists at Stanford University have apparently come up with a way to use tobacco to ‘grow’ key components for a new cancer vaccine. The vaccine could be used to bring down one form of lymphoma.
“They are using the plants as factories for an antibody chemical specific to the cells which cause follicular B-cell lymphoma, a type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.” (Source: bbc.com)
Scientists have tried to do this in the past with animal cells but plant cells offer a lower risk for an unknown virus.
The technology seems pretty cool to me and obviously surprising given most of us associate tobacco use with cancer.
Would you feel comfortable using a vaccine produced from tobacco plants given its nefarious reputation?