For true stories that are so ridiculous, that you could have sworn it was an !theonion worthy story.
Isn't it pretty common to use radiation to cause random mutations in seeds and then test which of the new properties are desirable and which aren't?
As far as I know that has been done already long before stuff like CRISPR came into the game and which allows you to manipulate the genes in a controlled way.
Cool AF
Very interesting any one know the exact science behind this?
Radiation may cause cancer because it randomly changes the genetic material in your cells. Sometimes your body detects these mutations and kills the corrupted cells. But sometimes the changes are subtile enough so the body doesn't notice. As these cells aren't killed, they will reproduce more and more.
So basically you'll have then two types of cells in your body. The normal ones and the mutated ones. Such mutations can have completely random effects. If it has a negative effect that's what you would typically refer to as cancer.
If you randomly change the genetic material of seeds with radiation, some of these seeds will be so corrupted that they are no longer able to sprout and grow a plant. Some of the seeds will have new properties. It may have a different appearance, taste or smell, it may be more or less resistent to certain pests, drought or specific conditions.
Let's say you generated 10000 living test plants that way that all have some random properties. Then from there it's just regular selective breeding. You pick those with properties you like and keep cultivating only them.
The same is done also without radiation in normal breeding. You multiply the organism, watch out for differences between the generation and actively propagate the genes of the best individuals.
With radiation you can just increase the chances of mutations to occur, so you won't have to wait as long as in a natural process.
Cool thanks