Science

Meet the 17-year-old scientist engineering tomatoes to taste like meat, and why her experiment could matter

October 16, 2026 1,936 views 1 min read
Meet the 17-year-old scientist engineering tomatoes to taste like meat, and why her experiment could matter

Meet the 17-year-old scientist engineering tomatoes to taste like meat, and why her experiment could matter


Gabriella Rothberg, a 17-year-old student from Miami, is developing genetically engineered tomatoes designed to produce heme, a molecule associated with meat flavour. Her project could have nutritional applications, but its taste and health benefits remain unproven.

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