Human blood and plants have something surprising in common, haemoglobin -- the substance that makes our blood red and carries oxygen around the body.

It has recently been discovered that not just humans and animals, but all plants also have haemoglobin in their roots and other parts, the Chief of CSIRO's Plant Industry, Dr Jim Peacock told a National Science Briefing in Canberra.

"Plants use haemoglobin in exactly the same way as we use it -- to transport oxygen," he said. "We've found now that wheat, eucalyptus, waratahs, anything you like to name has haemoglobin."

"Plants and ourselves share an enormous number of genes. This has become obvious as we get more and more data from projects like the Human Genome Project."

In fact the Human Genome Project had recently led to one of CSIRO's important advances -- the discovery of a gene to improve the malting quality of barley for making beer. This gene was identified by consulting human gene data.

"The Human Genome Project has been of immense importance in our work with crops, as well as other rural industries. Scientists are able to use the Internet to tap straight into gene databases, and much of the information comes from the Human Genome Project."

Australia has this week planted the first thirty thousand hectares of transgenically modified cotton, said Dr Peacock, which would radically reduce the need for chemical pesticides.

"Within a couple of years all of our cotton crop will have this built-in genetic protection," he said.

The Human Genome Organisation is holding the Second International Human Genome Summit in Canberra this week.

More information from: Dr Liz Dennis, tel: 06-2465061 or Paula Fitzgerald, tel: 06-2465323