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By Grover Welch

JONESBORO -- The Arkansas Biosciences Institute is an exciting cross-discipline research environment that has the potential for more than just really cool science, said Dr. Carole Cramer, executive director of the institute located on the Arkansas State University campus.

In a presentation to the Jonesboro Kiwanis Club Wednesday afternoon Cramer outlined some of the scientific research being facilitated at the institute and the potential that research may have for future economic development.

"A year after we started, we are seeing the research at the institute coming into line with the legislative mandate of 'conducting research at the interface of agriculture and medicine in support of economic development,'" she said. "In the long term the research will have a significant impact on the health of the public in Arkansas."

Research at the $20 million facility is focusing on bringing about significant scientific achievement in areas such as bio-fuel technology, vaccine development, plant-based protein production and others.

Cramer outlined some of the scientists and research they conduct at the facility.

Dr. Argelia Lorence, assistant professor of chemistry at ASU, has studied Vitamin C production in plants and has isolated genes associated with its production.

By manipulating Vitamin C, it is predicted that increased shelf life of vegetables could be accomplished, Cramer explained.

"Vegetables create Vitamin C," said Cramer. "Dr. Lorence has developed techniques that increase Vitamin C in lettuce up to seven times the normal amount. This could increase the shelf life of lettuce and other plants creating a very tangible economic benefit for farmers of those crops."

Dr. Greg Phillips, dean of agriculture, sciences and mathematics at ASU, is studying crop transformation technology. Through his research he is attempting to turn genes on and off in plants such as rice.

"He has isolated a gene associated with the degeneration of rice crops and by turning this gene off he is able to keep rice healthy for much longer time," said Cramer. "This has the potential to increase rice shelf life and could lead to increases in the health value of the commodity."

Cramer also outlined a directive of the facility to spur economic development.

"The institute is directed toward creating economic development around the research done at ASU," said Cramer. "We are engaged in actively seeking faculty at the university that have research that is patentable, or could translate into some type of economic vehicle. The goal is to encourage the pursuit of technologies developed at the university, in a real world business since."

Cramer spoke to the Kiwanis club as part of a campaign by ABI officials to raise community awareness and participation. The ABI will host a workshop on growing an entrepreneurial business next Wednesday. More information about the workshop is available at www.abi.as tate.edu or calling 972-2694.

gwelch@jonesborosun.com