He was formally trained as a pharmacist but developed his fortune in cotton seed oil.

The cotton seed being used in the area had developed a rot that destroyed half-the crop.

For most of the 19th century, cotton seeds were a nuisance.

To date, most genetic modification of foods have primarily focused on cash crops in high demand by farmers such as soybean, corn, canola, and cotton seed oil.

But they did say that the cotton seeds had begun to sprout, giving hope that the astronauts would be able to grow their own bedsheets and trousers.