USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Some argue that the zones should be redefined to account for warmer temperatures. Credit: USDA

Winter blues? Green thumb getting itchy? Join us in this hour of Science Friday for some spring gardening inspiration. We'll have experts to answer your gardening questions. We'll also look at efforts to redraw the plant hardiness zone maps to account for climate change. But if you aren't ready to change the map, perhaps you'd rather just ignore it -- some gardeners take perverse pleasure in 'pushing the zones,' growing plants far outside of their regular climate regions. We'll also get the latest on several court cases involving genetically modified plants.

Plus, new efforts to stop the patenting of genes. A bill recently introduced in Congress would a bill that once enacted, would ban patenting any and all portions of the human genome. Is a blanket ban on gene patents a good idea? Call in with your questions and comments at 1-800-989-8255 (3-4 Eastern). Teachers, find more information about using Science Friday as a classroom resource in the Kids' Connection.

Guests:
Robin Feldman
Herman Phleger Visiting Professor of Law
Stanford Law School
Stanford University
Stanford, California

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Tanya L.K. Denckla
Gardener, Writer
Author, "The Gardener's A-Z Guide to Growing Organic Food" (Storey Publishing, 2003)
Charlottesville, Virginia

David J. Ellis
Director of Communications
Editor, The American Gardener
American Horticultural Society
Alexandria, Virginia

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Dan Charles
Author, "Lords of the Harvest: Biotech, Big Money and the Future of Food" (Perseus Books Groups, 2001)
Science Writer
Washington, DC

Books/Articles Discussed:

"The Gardener's A-Z Guide to Growing Organic Food" by Tanya L.K. Denckla. Storey Publishing, 2003.

Magazine: The American Gardener

"Lords of the Harvest: Biotech, Big Money and the Future of Food" by Dan Charles. Perseus Books Groups, 2001.

(find books discussed on previous broadcasts)

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This segment produced by Annette Heist