‘Melt’ chocolate gene discovery could lead to medical advances

Scientists have discovered a gene involved in determining the melting point of cocoa butter, a critical attribute of the substance widely used in foods and pharmaceuticals.

The finding could lead to new and improved products, say researchers.

The finding by plant geneticists could also lead to new varieties of the cocoa plant that could extend the climate and soil-nutrient range for growing the crop and increase the value of its yield, they say, providing a boost to farmers’ incomes in the cocoa-growing regions of the world.

Cocoa butter with altered melting points may find new uses in specialty chocolates, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, says lead researcher Mark Guiltinan, professor of plant molecular biology at Penn State.

“The ‘snap’ and ‘melt’ of chocolate are two very important textural features that determine the appeal of chocolate to consumers, and having new varieties of the cocoa plant that produce butter with different melting points would be a valuable resource to control those characteristics,” Guiltinan explains.

“Medical applications could include production of drug-delivery products with slower release of drugs than is possible with current cocoa-butter-based systems.”

The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the variety of news, opinion and analysis. Read full, original post: ‘Melt’ gene could lead to new kinds of chocolate

{{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.singularReviewCountLabel }}
{{ reviewsTotal }}{{ options.labels.pluralReviewCountLabel }}
{{ options.labels.newReviewButton }}
{{ userData.canReview.message }}
screenshot at  pm

Are pesticide residues on food something to worry about?

In 1962, Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring drew attention to pesticides and their possible dangers to humans, birds, mammals and the ...
glp menu logo outlined

Newsletter Subscription

* indicates required
Email Lists
glp menu logo outlined

Get news on human & agricultural genetics and biotechnology delivered to your inbox.