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POPSTermites And Protozoa Discovered Together In Ancient Amber more: Between animals and microorganisms, this is the earliest example ever discovered of "mutualism," which is one type of symbiotic relationship in which two species help each other. "Termites live on cellulose, mostly from the dead wood they chew, but they depend on protozoa in their gut to provide the enzymes that can digest the wood," Poinar said. "These protozoa would die outside of the termite, and the termite would starve if it didn't have the protozoa to aid in digestion. In this case they depend on each other for survival."
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POPSPlastic-Producing Bacteria San Diego-based Genomatica has developed a microorganism that could replace the need for petroleum in the process to make some plastics. They genetically engineered E.Coli bacteria to consumer sugar and produce plastic without the use of oil or natural gas. The process takes place under normal pressure and temperatures, which drastically cuts it energy use.
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POPSVaTech, D.O.E, Russians, collaborators study rare microorganism that produces hydrogen So we finally found a clean energy solution ? guess not - no2liberals writes "I’m all for new sources of energy, but one has to look at the downside. The only emission from hydrogen as a fuel is water vapor, which happens to be the single greatest greenhouse gas. Do we really want vehicles and power plants spewing more of the gas that traps 80% of all radiant heat within the first thirty feet of atmosphere?"
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POPSMicrobicides could lead to tougher HIV
An estimated 33 million people have HIV. 66% in Africa. More than 61% of Africans with HIV are women who have been infected by their partners. They have found tougher HIV is not as likely to be transmitted. Microbicides work with consistent application, and in conjunction with anti HIV medication, which may not be taken. Reminds me of how Penicillin was once considered to be the the cure for many known diseases. It wasn't long before bacteria developed that were resistant, and the next generation of antibiotics needed to be developed. Now we have the top of the line Methycillin, and MRSA-Methycyllin resistant Staphylococcus Aureas -Golden Staph, and we're reaching the end of this line.. We tried to beat nature, and nature caught us and beat us back. As penicillin was a natural by product of a microorganism, it stands to reason that as many other species have natural antibiotics and defense mechanisms, we can find the next generation of antibiotics by following natures lead.
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POPSIs Your Workplace a Clean Space? We don’t think twice about eating at our desks, even though the average desk has 100 times more bacteria than a kitchen table and 400 times more bacteria than the average toilet
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POPSA Novel Bacterial Species Is Found Trapped In 120,000-year-old Ice The ultra-small size of the new species could be one explanation for why it was able to survive for so long in the Greenland glacier. Called Chryseobacterium greenlandensis, the species is related genetically to certain bacteria found in fish, marine mud, and the roots of some plants. The organism is one of only about 10 scientifically described new species originating from polar ice and glaciers.
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POPSNanotubes give pre-cancer symptoms in mice Every silver lining has a cloud behind it. There are perhaps thousands of prospective uses for nanotubes, from medicine to engineering. We may have to work out exactly where the line is. Asbestos was once considered an essential fire retardant. After the dangers that have been discovered recently, we've found that there are very few places it can be used safely. Asbestos is inorganic, and will not break down, however Carbon is the basis for organic chemicals, with which we are more likely to be compatible. There will be places that nanotubes will not break down quickly. Perhaps not until long after we are dead. Maybe there is a microorganism natural, or designed, that will clean them up. Meanwhile it's good the alarm bells have started to ring early, so, now wary of the dangers, we can do more specific investigation and learn exactly where they are safe to use. If there are any doubts they should be resolved first
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POPSThe Gold in Yellowstone's Microbes The Gold in Yellowstone's Microbes Thermus aquaticus and Brock donated several specimens to a public repository in Washington D.C. Dr. Kary Mullis, a researcher from a biochemical corporation, bought a sample for $35 Mullis would win a Nobel Prize in chemistry for using Thermus aquaticus as a key component in a process used to identify and analyze the genetic fingerprints of DNA. Taq Test, they are referring to Thermus aquaticus Taq-based process in 1991 to Swiss pharmaceutical giant F. Hoffmann-LaRoche for $300 million Hoffmann-LaRoche's annual sales over $200 million
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POPSSilent loss of honeybees continues Many of these commercial beekeepers are on the verge of loosing their livelihood..........and profiteering chemical companies refute the claims or are slow to react. Similarly, scientists leading the research into colony-collapse disorder remain non-committal, claiming a yet-to-be identified microorganism capable of causing disease may be responsible. All too late for the beekeepers, and remember honeybees pollinate many of our food items such as apples, nuts, citrus fruit etc.
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