Chapple had been conducting basic research that involved isolating the SNG1 gene that encodes an enzyme involved in the final step of a complicated, biochemical pathway that allows the plant to produce monomers. Monomers string together to form the long chains in plastics, called polymers. That exercise of genetic wizardry by Chapple and his colleagues caused a stir of interest in biochemistry circles last year. For that work, Chapple received the 2001 Agricultural Researcher Award at the university. A patent has been filed allowing Purdue and DuPont to develop the gene that would increase the production of unique plastics from plants instead of petroleum.
Plants already produce a limited number of monomers.
Chapple collaborated with an old associate, Knut Meyer of DuPont, who had been coincidentally working on the same type of project, but using tobacco plants. They can make all sorts of interesting compounds. In many cases they make compounds that organic chemists can't make even in lab. Plants make enzymes, which are biological catalysts that can do very precise, difficult reactions that organic chemists can't do. This shouldn't humble a hard-working researcher.