A group of local scientists has discovered a gene in plants that functions as a kind of iris, adequately adjusting the level of sun to be absorbed by the organism.

The discovery of the mechanism, a world's first, was uncovered by a team led by Professor Nam Hong-gil at Pohang University of Science and Technology.

The team said that a gene called PAPP5 attaches to and moves around with phytochrome, the protein in plants that recognizes light from darkness.

Accordingly, the gene is believed to adjust the amount and strength of sunlight to be absorbed by the plant.

The South Korean scientists voiced that the newly-discovered gene could be used in developing crops that flourish in poorly sunlit regions.

Their discovery was recently published in the international biology journal, 'Cell.'