Last and his researchers focus on learning how chloroplasts — specialized compartments in plant cells — synthesize nutrients such as amino acids and vitamins. The team uses advanced genetic screening technologies for their research to rapidly identify the genes responsible for these actions.

“The next question is, ‘How can we turn this knowledge into something that can help the world?’” he said.

Last said there are different levels of making the knowledge beneficial to the world. Some could take a long time, but others are already a possibility.

Plants with the ability to grow in harsher environments could help ease world hunger by allowing crops to be cultivated in areas where they now can’t. In addition, the higher nutrient content in the plants could help produce more effective medicines.

Finally, the higher concentration of chemical compounds in the genetically modified plants could increase the amount of biofuel they can produce, Last said.

“We’d like to be able to understand the metabolism enough where we can manipulate their abilities,” he said. “A lot of it is understanding the genetic structures of plants, and that is what we’re doing.”

With enough understanding, plants can be trained to grow in less favorable environments, house more compounds for biofuel processes and create more concentrated nutrients, Last said.

“Being able to use recent sun energy, that stored in plants, to replace ancient energy, fossil fuels, will take a long time,” he said. “Smaller things, like being able to create healthier and more efficient plants, are greatly possible.”

The research being conducted by Last and the rest of the staff at the Office of Biobased Technologies is all connected and important to improving Michigan and the world’s bioeconomy, said Jamie DePolo, a spokeswoman for the office, where Last conducts his research.

“All the different projects here help advance the others,” she said. “Professor Last’s studies will help others hone a better understanding of plants and make them more manageable to work with.”

Originally, studies of organisms were focused on small parts, not entire genetic sequences. Last said scientists used to focus only on sections of the sequences.

“There are so many more levels than what people think,” he said. “We used to think there were six or seven steps to connect characteristics.”

Before having a full sequence of DNA, scientists thought of the plant metabolism as a web, but now with full strands, they can see it as a long pathway where everything is connected, Last said.

Some students are intrigued by the prospect of being able to manipulate a plant to fit specific duties. Finance freshman Sneh Desai was surprised to find this type of research is possible.

“It reminds me of like ‘Jurassic Park,’ playing with genes and such,” he said. “But it does sound like a great thing; it sounds like eventually it might help solve world hunger.”