Researchers in southwest China's Sichuan Province have announced that the balsamine seeds which had been sent into space have developed variation.

The balsamine seeds traveled into space aboard China's spacecraft Shenzhou IV in 2002, and returned after seven days.

Researchers at Sichuan's Southwest Normal University have found that the seeds' chromosomes have developed variation, which means we can grow more kinds of balsamine in the future.

It is the first time that scientists have found massive variations in this plant's chromosomes.

(CRI April 6, 2004)