Carter Roberts, chief conservation officer for the World Wildlife Fund, said that the strain on natural resources threatens environmental progress as the world strives to match America's prosperity.

CNN: Challenges ahead for a changing Earth

With their classic Texas sound intact throughout and with songs covering timely themes such immigration, financial strain and natural disaster The Flatlanders' members carry on with as much relevance today as they had when they first got together.

NPR: The Flatlanders On Mountain Stage

By patching in a plant gene, they have created a mutant strain that can make an enzyme which converts a natural amino acid called tyrosine into one of the synthetic forms.

ECONOMIST: Chemists are trying to synthesise new varieties of life