A group of ISU researchers have spent 12 years studying plants to see what role plant starch plays in human health.

The researchers said it is important to study starch because it makes up a large portion of humans’ diets.

Starch is a carbohydrate found in crops such as corn, wheat and rice.

During photosynthesis, energy from the sunlight is stored in the form of carbohydrates that is later used when energy supplies are required.

Alan Myer, professor of biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology, said there are two objectives in the research.

“First, we want to understand the fundamental framework of how central starch is to the human diet and as an energy source,” Myer said.

“Second, by using this understanding we want to improve the material the plants are made out of for beneficial health reasons.”

By cloning plant genes, researchers hope to understand what role the genes play in starch. The scientists are creating specific starches for specific industrial uses and for specific nutrition requirements.

“Our main focus is the basic scientific approach to understand the plant and what it is made out of and how starch functions in that plant,” said Martha James, associate scientist in biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology.

“Then we use the applied perspective to find out how the understanding of the topic could benefit health.”

James and Myer have worked together on this research to provide a comprehensive understanding of starch metabolism in higher plants.

“We have been able to manipulate the genes of plants, and by doing so, we may be able to make the plants valuable to human health,” Myer said.

James said starch plays an important role in health and studying it could lead to advancement in cancer research.

“Starch plays a vital role in our diets since more than half of the calories we attain are from starch,” James said.

“We have been observing starch structure and composition, disrupting these components and noticing visible changes, such as shrinking, in the starch.”

The researchers are hoping to potentially create a resistant starch that could pass through the intestines into the colon that would function like a fiber and would be beneficial in protecting symptoms of cancer.