Weren't we the ones who breathlessly await any progress on the Riemann hypothesis? A theorem of pure number theory, with no applications.
Breeders pursued it as a challenge. Doing it via genetic engineering probably feels like cheating to them, but the biochemists do it to learn genetic techniques.
From the picture nobody is going to be putting these in a bouquet any time soon. But the accomplishment is neat. And even if it's not. I'm not gonna yuck their yum.
Comparing the genetic engineering of this rose to curing cancer is about the same as comparing making a sandwich to running an international restaurant chain.
I think it’s interesting they noted the flowers stopped making the new pigment in the wild after 3 years - is it a genetic treatment that requires repeated intervention to maintain the effect?
I’m also guessing the new genes don’t propagate to the seeds as well, so that they can have a steady demand for their special flowers.
No, the trial was only conducted for three years, presumably because that's how long they budgeted. I don't think they actually stopped producing blue flowers at that point.
This is why hybrids need to be re-bred with themselves many many generations in order to stabilize the phenotype. The genetic info may still be there but not expressing itself
Suntory Global Innovation Center Ltd. (SIC) presented new research findings toward the realization of bluer roses at the 32nd International Horticultural Congress (IHC2026), held in Kyoto in August 2026.
...
Suntory began its blue rose research in 1990. Roses naturally lack a key gene required to produce delphinidin, the blue pigment found in many blue flowers. In 2004, Suntory Group became the first in the world to develop roses that accumulate delphinidin by introducing a gene that enables roses to produce this pigment. This achievement led to the launch of SUNTORY blue rose APPLAUSE in 2009. Since then, SIC has continued its research toward even bluer roses by exploring the various mechanisms that create blue flower colors in nature.
In this study, the researchers explored a new approach to achieving bluer flower colors by focusing on the effect of copigmentation.
That would be akin to: Linux 7.2 released (1991)
Note the difference in the science journalism title and the more closely related release https://www.suntory.com/sic/story/20260911/ "Beyond the “World First”: Opening Up New Possibilities for “Blue” in Roses New findings on copigmentation presented at IHC2026"
Any article on this topic is unsatisfactory if it lacks a color photo.
There is a color photo, but the rose isn't actually blue.
Not actually blue though is it? Kinda purple.
I would've called it "a sickly kind of purple"
Source article is better, and refers to them as “violet-blue roses” https://www.suntory.com/sic/story/20260911/
Seems like they need to remove any of the Red genes?
Are the scientists color blind? The rose is purple.
Bad translation, see the other top-level comment with the origin link that referes to them as violet-blue.
purple isn't real, there is only more blue.
Qualia vs phenomena. Both are real
It's obviously white and gold.
« Hey Coop’! I guess Blue Roses occur in nature now! »
« Damn good news, Gordon! »
Finally! What we have all been waiting for. Phew.
I mean asking us to use different flowers to get our blue colours was just too much.
Weren't we the ones who breathlessly await any progress on the Riemann hypothesis? A theorem of pure number theory, with no applications.
Breeders pursued it as a challenge. Doing it via genetic engineering probably feels like cheating to them, but the biochemists do it to learn genetic techniques.
From the picture nobody is going to be putting these in a bouquet any time soon. But the accomplishment is neat. And even if it's not. I'm not gonna yuck their yum.
It was more a comment on the article than the research. Especially the title
Why not? You have something against violet blue?
The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams, anyone? :)
Immediately what I thought of
GOOD NEWS EVERYBODY. FINALLY ROSES ARE ALSO BLUE.
NOW MAYBE BACK TO CANCER?
Not everyone has the skill set to cure cancer.
1,000 labs spending $1M each to cure cancer would likely not progress as far as 10 labs spending $100M each.
Perfecting the techniques around genetic manipulation will likely indirectly help cure cancer.
Doing so on something that has public appeal (and little to no opposition) is less risky than doing it on an animal cell line.
Comparing the genetic engineering of this rose to curing cancer is about the same as comparing making a sandwich to running an international restaurant chain.
Roses are red, roses are blue...
Violets are not red / roses are not blue / you can call them purple / if you have a clue
Mild purple would be a better name
What I'm wondering is why researchers from a brewing company are interested in creating blue roses? How will they apply this to the brewing craft?
Imagine making beer where fermentation creates alcohol and some other psychoactive substance.
It's proof of concept for biotech applicability.
More details on this page.
https://www.suntory.com/sic/story/bluerose/1/
I think it’s interesting they noted the flowers stopped making the new pigment in the wild after 3 years - is it a genetic treatment that requires repeated intervention to maintain the effect?
I’m also guessing the new genes don’t propagate to the seeds as well, so that they can have a steady demand for their special flowers.
No, the trial was only conducted for three years, presumably because that's how long they budgeted. I don't think they actually stopped producing blue flowers at that point.
Could also be at least in part an epigenetic effect where the gene remains but is deactivated or strongly down regulated.
This is why hybrids need to be re-bred with themselves many many generations in order to stabilize the phenotype. The genetic info may still be there but not expressing itself
2004?
That would be akin to: Linux 7.2 released (1991)
Note the difference in the science journalism title and the more closely related release https://www.suntory.com/sic/story/20260911/ "Beyond the “World First”: Opening Up New Possibilities for “Blue” in Roses New findings on copigmentation presented at IHC2026"
What are they sniffing? When I hear "true blue rose", I imagine a red rose but blue, not this Frankenstein.
Similar story about "blue" orchids
https://youtu.be/EPvdX1GfWhA?is=5JySN1BEZI83Zbnr