Genetically engineered lettuce and tobacco can produce meat protein

Scientists in London made special lettuce and tobacco plants that can create a protein from meat called myoglobin.

This protein is what gives meat its red color and helps it taste like meat.

The scientists took the recipe for this protein from pigs and cows and put it inside the plants.

The plants grew normally, made flowers, and created seeds just like regular plants.

Putting the recipe inside the plant's energy-making part, called the chloroplast, worked three times better than other methods.

This meat protein could one day make plant-based burgers taste more like real meat.

Raising animals for meat uses a lot of water and creates pollution that warms the planet.

Growing plants uses fewer resources and is kinder to the Earth.

Still, it will take many years before we see this in stores.