The world’s most prolific carbon-fixing enzyme is slowly getting better

We have shown that rubisco is not frozen in time but is instead continually evolving to get better. While rubisco fixes billions of tons of CO 2 each year, the enzyme is notoriously inefficient. Why is the enzyme that has been fuelling life for over 3 billion years not much better at doing its job? Many plant scientists have debated whether the enzyme is stuck in an 'evolutionary rut', making it impossible for it to get any better. Improving rubisco could be key to supporting the food needs of a growing global population.