SMALL MIRACLES

HC177: Biotech & ArtAnna Do

Physiological Science

ABSTRACT

Obesity and diabetes are epidemics in America, no doubt with high correlation to our high sugar diet.Miracle berries, also known as Synsepalum dulcificum is a berry native to West Africa which contains miraculin. Miraculin is a unique glycoprotein that binds to taste bud sweet receptors making naturally bitter and sour foods taste sweet. It is difficult to extract and purify from the berries in significant amounts, but if dulcifica genes are added to lettuce, it can yield ample amounts of miraculin which can be used as a natural, non-fat, sweetener to be taken before meals.“Miracle cafés” that sell miraculin pills and miraculin straws will allow consumers to enjoy non-fat, low-calorie desserts otherwise less palatable, that taste like the unhealthy sugary desserts and drinks they crave after miraculin tampers with their taste buds.

CONCEPT: A SWEET MIRACLE FOR THE OBESE AND DIABETIC

Sugar intake is the common culprit for the development of obesity and diabetes. Refined natural sugar are unhealthy and high intake can lead to heart disease while artificial sugars contain carcinogens. Scientists have found natural sweeteners that contain zero fat, however distribution of such products depends on FDA approval which in turn is subject to pressures from “big sugar” business.

By cloning transgenic lettuce to produce miraculin – a protein produced by miracle berries that enhances sweet tastes in naturally bitter or sour food, bulk amounts of miraculin can be produced, extracted and purified into pill form. Due to miraculin inactivation by heat, it cannot be added to food to be cooked, but if taken in pill form prior to eating, it will allow enhanced taste and added sweetness without any added fat. This will help lower prevalence of obesity and allow diabetics to enjoy “sweets” without reservation.

CONTEXT AND PRECEDENTS

FDA banned miraculin as “food additive” 1974 (Robinson 2010)ial sweetener candidate?

Can be legally grown, but can’t be used in food

Robert Harvey, Miralin company popsicle test

Big Sugar business pressures on FDA

Scientists have attempted to produce miraculin in bacteria, yeast and other plants (Edmonds 2008)

MIRACLE BERRIESSynsepalum dulcificumEvergreen shrub native to West AfricaTaste like cranberries/cherries(Farrell 2008)

MIRACULINActive glycoprotein with carbohydrate chainsBinds to taste buds sweet receptors rendering them responsive to acidsEffects last up to an hour and are variableDenatured by heat Difficult to extract and purify from berries(Edmonds 2008)

FLAVOR TRIPPING PARTIES

Tablets

Bitter, sour, and acidic buffet of food

Lemon candy Grapefruit candyRadishes candyGoat cheese cheese cakePickles sweet picklesHot sauce donut glazeBeer (Guinness+lemon sorbet) chocolate

shakeBalsamic vinegar sweet apple cider

(LaRue 2009, Fowler 2008, Rowe 2006)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sbGg31RJ3w

SWEET MIRACLES CAFEFDA banned miraculin as “food additive” 1974 (Robinson 2010)

Can be legally grown, but can’t be used IN food

Miracle tablets

Miracle straws for tart, acidic juices, beer

CONCLUSION: CRAVINGS SATISFIED AT SWEET MIRACLES CAFE

By opening Sweet Miracles Cafes around the nation that offer an alternative to fattening desserts that are high in refined sugar, we can both decrease the cases of obesity in America from a daunting 43 million and allow the 23.6 million diabetics to indulge safely (CDC 2007).

The novelty of these cafes involves the intrigue of trying new and delicious, yet low-calorie desserts made from ingredients which typically are known to be bitter, sour, acidic, and generally not dessert foods such combinations of beer and sorbet, pickles and lemon, and more.

REFERENCES1. CDC. "Diabetes Statistics." American Diabetes Association. 20 Nov.

2009. Web. 11 Feb. 2010. <http://www.diabetes.org/ diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics/>.

2. Edmonds, Molly. "How Flavor Tripping Works." How Stuff Works. 1 Aug. 2008. Web. 11 Feb. 2010. <http://health.howstuffworks.com/flavor-tripping2.htm>.

3. LaRue, Jennifer H. "One Miracle Berry That Lives Up to Hype." The Washington Post. 31 Mar. 2009. Web. 10 Feb. 2010. <http://voices.washingtonpost.com/checkup/2009/03/a_berry_that_lives_up_to_claim.html>.

4. Robinson, Marco. "What The Sugar Industry and the FDA Don't Want You to Know." Miracle Fruit Hut. 25 Jan. 2010. Web. 11 Feb. 2010. <http://www.miraclefruithut.com/component/content/article/11-what-the-sugar-industry-and-fda-dont-want-you-to-know>.

5. Rowe, Aaron. "Super lettuce turns sour sweet." The New Yorker WIRED. The New Yorker, 7 Dec. 2006. Web. 10 Feb. 2010. <http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2006/12/72251>.

6. Shatkin, Elina. "Daily Dish." Los Angeles Times. 12 Feb. 2009. Web. 10 Feb. 2010. <http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dailydish/2009/02/miracle-fruit-b.html>.

BIBLIOGRAPHYCDC. "Diabetes Statistics." American Diabetes Association. 20 Nov. 2009. Web. 11 Feb. 2010. <http:// www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics/>.

Edmonds, Molly. "How Flavor Tripping Works." How Stuff Works. 1 Aug. 2008. Web. 11 Feb. 2010. <http:// health.howstuffworks.com/flavor-tripping2.htm>.

Farrell, Patrick. "A Tiny Fruit That Tricks the Tongue." New York Times. 28 Mar. 2008. Web. 10 Feb. 2010.

<http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/28/dining/28flavor.html?_r=1>.

Fowler, Adam. "The miracle berry." BBC News. 28 Apr. 2008. Web. 10 Feb. 2010. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7367548.stm>.

Havill, Steven A. "Miracle Fruit Has the Potential to Wipe Out Sugar Related Diabetes." Health and Fitness. 1 Feb. 2010. Web. 11 Feb. 2010. <http://ezinearticles.com/?Miracle-Fruit-Has-the-Potential- to-Wipe-Out-Sugar-Related-Diabetes&id=3678776>.

LaRue, Jennifer H. "One Miracle Berry That Lives Up to Hype." The Washington Post. 31 Mar. 2009. Web. 10 Feb. 2010. <http://voices.washingtonpost.com/checkup/2009/03/a_berry_that_lives_up_to_claim.html>.

Robinson, Marco. "What The Sugar Industry and the FDA Don't Want You to Know." Miracle Fruit Hut. 25 Jan. 2010. Web. 11 Feb. 2010. <http://www.miraclefruithut.com/component/content/article/ 11-what-the-sugar-industry-and-fda-dont-want-you-to-know>.

Rowe, Aaron. "Super lettuce turns sour sweet." The New Yorker WIRED. The New Yorker, 7 Dec. 2006. Web. 10 Feb. 2010. <http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2006/12/72251>.

Shatkin, Elina. "Daily Dish." Los Angeles Times. 12 Feb. 2009. Web. 10 Feb. 2010. <http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dailydish/2009/02/miracle-fruit-b.html>.