Obesity and diabetes are linked to high sugar diets. Miracle berries contain miraculin, which makes sour foods taste sweet, could be used as a natural sweetener. Scientists are trying to genetically engineer lettuce to produce large quantities of miraculin, which could be taken in pill form before meals to enhance the taste of low-calorie foods without adding fat or calories. Opening "Miracle Cafes" selling miraculin products could help reduce obesity and allow diabetics to enjoy sweet-tasting foods.

1. Small Miracles HC177: Biotech & Art Anna Do Physiological Science

2. Abstract Obesity and diabetes are epidemics in America, no doubt with high correlation to our high sugar diet. Miracle berries, also known as Synsepalumdulcificum is a berry native to West Africa which contains miraculin. Miraculin is a unique glycoprotein that binds to taste bud sweet receptors making naturally bitter and sour foods taste sweet. It is difficult to extract and purify from the berries in significant amounts, but if dulcifica genes are added to lettuce, it can yield ample amounts of miraculin which can be used as a natural, non-fat, sweetener to be taken before meals. “Miracle cafés” that sell miraculin pills and miraculin straws will allow consumers to enjoy non-fat, low-calorie desserts otherwise less palatable, that taste like the unhealthy sugary desserts and drinks they crave after miraculin tampers with their taste buds.

3. Concept: A Sweet Miracle for the Obese and diabetic Sugar intake is the common culprit for the development of obesity and diabetes. Refined natural sugar are unhealthy and high intake can lead to heart disease while artificial sugars contain carcinogens. Scientists have found natural sweeteners that contain zero fat, however distribution of such products depends on FDA approval which in turn is subject to pressures from “big sugar” business. By cloning transgenic lettuce to produce miraculin – a protein produced by miracle berries that enhances sweet tastes in naturally bitter or sour food, bulk amounts of miraculin can be produced, extracted and purified into pill form. Due to miraculin inactivation by heat, it cannot be added to food to be cooked, but if taken in pill form prior to eating, it will allow enhanced taste and added sweetness without any added fat. This will help lower prevalence of obesity and allow diabetics to enjoy “sweets” without reservation.

5. Robert Harvey, Miralin company popsicle test

6. Big Sugar business pressures on FDA

8. Evergreen shrub native to West Africa

10. Binds to taste buds sweet receptors rendering them responsive to acids

11. Effects last up to an hour and are variable

12. Denatured by heat

13. Difficult to extract and purify from berries(Edmonds 2008)

15. Bitter, sour, and acidic buffet of food

16. Lemon  candy

17. Grapefruit  candy

18. Radishes  candy

19. Goat cheese  cheese cake

20. Pickles  sweet pickles

21. Hot sauce  donut glaze

22. Beer (Guinness+lemon sorbet)  chocolate shake

23. Balsamic vinegar  sweet apple cider(LaRue 2009, Fowler 2008, Rowe 2006) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sbGg31RJ3w

25. Can be legally grown, but can’t be used IN food

26. Miracle tablets

28. References CDC. "Diabetes Statistics." American Diabetes Association. 20 Nov. 2009. Web. 11 Feb. 2010. <http://www.diabetes.org/ diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics/>. Edmonds, Molly. "How Flavor Tripping Works." How Stuff Works. 1 Aug. 2008. Web. 11 Feb. 2010. <http://health.howstuffworks.com/flavor-tripping2.htm>. LaRue, Jennifer H. "One Miracle Berry That Lives Up to Hype." The Washington Post. 31 Mar. 2009. Web. 10 Feb. 2010. <http://voices.washingtonpost.com/checkup/2009/03/a_berry_that_lives_up_to_claim.html>. Robinson, Marco. "What The Sugar Industry and the FDA Don't Want You to Know." Miracle Fruit Hut. 25 Jan. 2010. Web. 11 Feb. 2010. <http://www.miraclefruithut.com/component/content/article/11-what-the-sugar-industry-and-fda-dont-want-you-to-know>. Rowe, Aaron. "Super lettuce turns sour sweet." The New Yorker WIRED. The New Yorker, 7 Dec. 2006. Web. 10 Feb. 2010. <http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2006/12/72251>. Shatkin, Elina. "Daily Dish." Los Angeles Times. 12 Feb. 2009. Web. 10 Feb. 2010. <http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/dailydish/2009/02/miracle-fruit-b.html>.

29. Bibliography CDC. "Diabetes Statistics." American Diabetes Association. 20 Nov. 2009. Web. 11 Feb. 2010. <http:// www.diabetes.org/diabetes-basics/diabetes-statistics/>. Edmonds, Molly. "How Flavor Tripping Works." How Stuff Works. 1 Aug. 2008. Web. 11 Feb. 2010. <http:// health.howstuffworks.com/flavor-tripping2.htm>. Farrell, Patrick. "A Tiny Fruit That Tricks the Tongue." New York Times. 28 Mar. 2008. Web. 10 Feb. 2010. <http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/28/dining/28flavor.html?_r=1>. Fowler, Adam. "The miracle berry." BBC News. 28 Apr. 2008. Web. 10 Feb. 2010. <http://news.bbc.co.uk/ 2/hi/7367548.stm>. Havill, Steven A. "Miracle Fruit Has the Potential to Wipe Out Sugar Related Diabetes." Health and Fitness. 1 Feb. 2010. Web. 11 Feb. 2010. <http://ezinearticles.com/?Miracle-Fruit-Has-the-Potential- to-Wipe-Out-Sugar-Related-Diabetes&id=3678776>. LaRue, Jennifer H. "One Miracle Berry That Lives Up to Hype." The Washington Post. 31 Mar. 2009. Web. 10 Feb. 2010. <http://voices.washingtonpost.com/checkup/2009/03/a_berry_that_lives_up_to_claim.html>. Robinson, Marco. "What The Sugar Industry and the FDA Don't Want You to Know." Miracle Fruit Hut. 25 Jan. 2010. Web. 11 Feb. 2010. <http://www.miraclefruithut.com/component/content/article/ 11-what-the-sugar-industry-and-fda-dont-want-you-to-know>. Rowe, Aaron. "Super lettuce turns sour sweet." The New Yorker WIRED. The New Yorker, 7 Dec. 2006. Web. 10 Feb. 2010. <http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2006/12/72251>. Shatkin, Elina. "Daily Dish." Los Angeles Times. 12 Feb. 2009. Web. 10 Feb. 2010. <http:// latimesblogs.latimes.com/dailydish/2009/02/miracle-fruit-b.html>.