Reports have revealed that scientists have managed to identify the two genes at work in opium poppies which are used in the making of codeine and morphine, which are two of the most important painkillers used by people all over.

The finding has managed to open the door to new and alternative ways of manufacturing the medicines without having to give over large areas of farmland to growing of the flowers. One hope which researchers have shared is to try and transfer the genes into microbes, which could be grown into vats and end up providing large quantities of the painkillers at a cost which is much less than currently endured for farming and processing of the plant.

Researchers have asserted that the discovery could end up leading to the creation of strains of opium poppies that cannot produce morphine, which is the chemical which is later turned into heroin and exported in bulks from countries like Afghanistan.

"The evolution of these two genes in a single plant species has had such a huge impact on humanity over the past several thousand years. Our discovery allows this unique genetic power to be harnessed", said led researcher Peter Facchini.

The research was carried out at the University of Calgary, Canada, and details have been published in the journal Nature Chemical Biology.