Howard L. Davidson Sun Microsystems

Sun Microsystems SML 2000-0671

10/26/00

Really Distributed Sensing

Howard L. DavidsonSun Microsystems

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and space over then’t have a direct

Distributed Sensing11/3/00 nasa.10.18.00.3

Problem

• How do you sense the distribution in timesurface of the earth of parameters that doelectromagnetic signature?

• Examples:

• Low concentrations of organic chemicals

• Organisms

• Low concentrations of metals in soil and water

• Mineral and nutrient content of soil

• Minefields

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he Ground?


Why Not Look Directly on t

• It’s expensive

• May want millions of points

• Inaccessible areas

• Want data over long periods of time

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ers

ronmental variables

m orbit

pecificity sensitivities


Plants as Transduc

• Ordinary plants respond to common envi

• Can see drought and fertilizer use on croplands fro

• Can see graves and ruins

• Bioengineering can add many new high s

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Sensors

scence

etabolism

ion

are easy

e


Engineering Plants as

• Easy output variables are color and fluore

• Doesn’t have to be in visible, near IR is accessible

• Should have reference companion color

• Input variable must be coupled to plans m

• Upregulate or downregulate chromophore express

• Many variables potentially available

• Temperature, integrated sunlight, water, CO2, nutrients

• Almost any element and protein potentially possibl

• TNT has been shown possible

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ensors...

extend depth range

, and oceans


Engineering Plants as S

• Depth of sensing controlled by root depth

• Grass versus Canadian Thistle

• Hybrid soil fungus and plant systems can

• Algae and aquatic plants for lakes, rivers

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tation


Chlorophyll and Vege

Processed Landsat data from www.nasa.gov

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Sensors

and fluorescence

etabolism

ion

, plant pathogens

e


Engineering Plants as

• Easy output variables are reflected color

• Doesn’t have to be in visible, near IR is accessible

• Should have reference companion color

• Input variable must be coupled to plans m

• Upregulate or downregulate chromophore express

• Many variables potentially available

• Temperature, integrated sunlight, water, CO2, nutrients

• Almost any element and protein potentially possibl

• TNT has been shown possible

Distributed Sensing11/3/00 nasa.10.18.00.3 foil 9 of 13

Chlorophyll Fluorescence

Mark Abbott, MOD-EC-129.1545_Lw_678_corrected.gif

Sun Microsystems SML 2000-0671

10/26/00

Color

VIGS for identification of N-signal transduction pathway components

We are using virus induced gene silencing (VIGS) and the potato virus X (PVX) vector developedby the Baulcombe lab to test candidate genes for function in N-mediated resistance. We have successfullyestablished the gene silencing system using the visual reporter gephytoene desaturase PDS and the N gene.

Virus induced gene silencing (VIGS) of phyoene desaturase (PDS) in N. bemthamiana

http://www.bakerlab.usda.gov/BakerLab/research7.html

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Fluorescence

http://www.bakerlab.usda.gov/BakerLab/research7.html

VIGS of N in N. benthamiana:NN leads to TMV-GFP spread

N silenced TMV: susceptible

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ions


System Considerat

• Pixel size

• 100 m X 100 m easy, 2 m X 2 m possible

• Non-food plants are good candidates

• Highway median groundcover

• Weeds

• Fiber sources, i.e. cotton, pine trees

• Lawns

• Flowers

• Decorative shrubs

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e

roteins

, cocoa, opium

m/netguide/biotech/


Public Acceptanc

• Don’t use food crops

• May need to be sterile

• Plant should express no unusual proteins

• Many existing plant chromophores available

• Don’t express insecticide or antibiotic resistance p

• Interesting, but unlikely, species

• Kudzu, dandelions, kentucky blue grass, marijuana

• Good biotech portal: http://www.nature.cointro.html

Documents

Howard L. Davidson Sun Microsystems