As the natural producer of morphine and codeine, it is the opium poppy that allows production of these pain killers used by both the legitimate and illegitimate trades (the latter uses 10 times as much opium).  Scientists have recently identified the two key genes that are involved with its production and hope that producing these same molecules will control the heroin trade.  It may even be possible to genetically modify the poppy plant so it lacks the ability to convert codeine into morphine, therefore reducing supplies of heroin.

Canadian University of Calgary’s Professor Peter Facchini said, “[w]ith this discovery, we can potentially create plants that will stop production at codeine [and so not produce morphine].  We are also working towards the synthesis of codeine and other opiate drugs more efficiently and economically in controlled bioprocessing facilities.”