Most current genetic engineering experiments, which result in organisms that look the same on the outside and produce a single new chemical X on the inside, are somewhat boring. We want dramatic, visible changes in our mutants – like The Hulk. One ongoing project that would result in a colorful mutant is the quest for a blue rose. Current so-called “blue roses” were produced by tradritional crossbreeding and are really lavender. Initial attempts by Florigene in Australia to isolate and transfer the genes creating blue color in other flowers fizzled resulting in – you guessed it – genetically engineered lavender flowers like Moonshadow carnations. Turns out the different pH-levels of the tissue of rose and carnation petals messes up the natural blue anthocyanin synthesis that works in other flowers like petunias. Reports from last week are saying the key to blue roses may not be from plant genes but human liver genes instead, and scientists at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee have now taken up the quest for a blue rose anew. (Maybe if they get lavender flowers like everybody else, they could try it instead on onions and get a blue liver-and-onion…something.) Until this line of work succeeds, the only true blue roses will come not from genetic engineering but instead from Photoshop…