Genetically engineered rice and barley are producing human blood proteins that can be used to prevent clotting, make artificial blood and treat emphysema. These unusual "harvests" stem from the molecular investigations of UC Davis genetics professor Raymond Rodriguez, who has discovered that seed germination can be harnessed to produce a variety of proteins, including those in human blood. "As demand for blood products increases, rice and barley provide an alternative supply for these 'injectables,'" says Rodriguez. In this process, a gene that produces the human protein is customized to resemble a plant gene, then is inserted into the rice or barley plant. During seed germination in the post-harvest malting process, the inserted gene causes the grain to produce the desired blood protein, rather than the enzyme that normally converts starch to sugar in the seed. UC has filed patent applications on Rodriguez's discoveries. He is commercializing the process through his own biotechnology firm and has licensed the technology from the university. His campus work continues to focus on genetics research related to food production.