Scientists Engineered a Plant to Produce Five Psychedelics Simultaneously

Researchers transferred genes from plants, fungi, and toads into Nicotiana benthamiana to reconstruct five tryptamine biosynthesis pathways.

The engineered tobacco plants produced DMT, psilocin, psilocybin, bufotenin and 5‑MeO‑DMT simultaneously, though yields varied between compounds.

The team also modified enzymes to create nonnatural tryptamine analogs and published the results in Science Advances.