Boost food production by fixing a flaw in photosynthesis

Boost food production by fixing a flaw in photosynthesis

One of the evolution’s biggest mistakes has been the enzyme that grabs hold of CO2 and adds it to a carbon chain, holds an oxygen molecule by mistake. This generates toxic molecules that plants have to expend energy to mop up. Initially it was not a major issue since there was little oxygen around. But subsequently it became a problem as oxygen levels rose and CO2 levels declined. The grabbing of oxygen by mistake called photorespiration now happens so often that it has reduced photosynthesis efficiency by 50%. But the…