Researchers in Japan claim they have cracked the secret of putting the remarkable qualities of the miracle fruit into a GM lettuce.
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Containing a unique protein, miraculin, the West African miracle fruit strongly stimulates the sensation of sweetness receptors on the tongue. Even sour food will taste sweet after eating the fruit.
Past attempts to re-create the protein failed after miraculin was isolated in 1994, but the Japanese have succeeded by genetically modifying lettuce plants. The researchers at the University of Tsukuba near Tokyo plan to use it in diet foods.
