Scientists create 'super banana'

Scientists supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have engineered a 'super banana' that aims to cure the world of Vitamin A deficiency.

The new version of banana is packed with alpha and beta carotene which the body transforms into Vitamin A.

Although it may not seem as life-threatening, lack of the mentioned vitamin causes the death of hundreds of thousands of children. Those who do not die, are most likely to go blind.

By 2020, researchers plan to grow the super banana in countries such as Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Currently, the engineered fruit is on its way to the US where it will be tested on human volunteers.

The only difference between conventional bananas and the new super bananas is that the edible part of the latter is more orange, due to the carotene content.