17-year-old scientist creates tomatoes

Gabriella Rothberg, a 17-year-old from Miami, developed genetically engineered tomatoes designed to taste like hamburgers.

“You’ll bite into a tomato, and it’ll taste like a hamburger”

How tomatoes taste like hamburgers

Rothberg uses genetic engineering to introduce heme, an iron-containing molecule associated with meat flavor, into tomato plants.

“The process involves introducing genetic material into tomato plants through a bacterium called Agrobacterium”

Tomatoes provide nutrients typically found in meat

Rothberg hopes her tomatoes could offer important nutrients to regions where meat is difficult to obtain, especially pregnant women in the Global South.

“She believes the technology could eventually benefit people in regions where meat is less accessible, particularly pregnant women in parts of the Global South who may struggle to obtain sufficient iron through their diets.”

Impossible Vines project

Rothberg and University of Miami PhD candidate Maddison Marshall are developing the project, which has a patent issued in June.

“According to the Miami New Times, Rothberg has already used AI to help develop a business plan and patent for Impossible Vines. The patent was issued in June, listing Gabriella and her father as inventors.”

Genetic engineering for nutritional benefits

Rothberg aims to increase lycopene production in tomatoes, which has potential cancer risk reduction benefits.

“Lycopene has been studied for its potential role in reducing cancer risk, although those benefits have not been conclusively established.”

What happens next

Rothberg continues developing tomatoes that offer meat-like flavor and nutritional benefits for global food security.