Genetically-Engineered Bacteria for Cleaning

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Curious - 01 Nov 2004 03:14 GMT

Is it possible to genetically-engineer bacteria to use acids, acidic
substances, sulphides, oxides [including smoke], ketones, skatole,
phosphides, sulfates, phopshates, sodium ions, halogens [atomic,
ionic, isotopic], sulfur, phosphorus, carbon [ash, charcoal, etc.]
lipids [including gasoline], chlorine [atomic, ionic, and isotopic],
alcohols [organic OH- compounds], radioactive wastes, histamines,
salts, oxidants, radicals, and urea for energy?

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Lesley Robertson - 01 Nov 2004 12:48 GMT

> Is it possible to genetically-engineer bacteria to use acids, acidic
> substances, sulphides, oxides [including smoke], ketones, skatole,
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> alcohols [organic OH- compounds], radioactive wastes, histamines,
> salts, oxidants, radicals, and urea for energy?

Why bother with the cost and bother of genetic engineering? There are
microorganisms that can metabolise most of the above quite happliy (not some
of the elements, obviously). I've got bugs sitting in the fridges here that
handle about half of them. All you have to do is use the right
enrichment/selection methods with the right starting material.
Llesley Robertson
http://www.beijerinck.bt.tudelft.nl

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Natural Science Forum / Biology / Microbiology / November 2004

Genetically-Engineered Bacteria for Cleaning