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Microbes Produce Precursor To Missile Propellent
Makarand writes "According to this article on ScienceDaily.com microbiologists at the Michigan State University have
created strains of bacteria which can convert certain types of sugars into a non-natural synthetic material,
called butanetriol, which is used to produce a missile propellant (butanetriol trinitrate). The DNA
of bacteria like Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas fragi was altered so that these
bacteria could act
as minifactories producing butanetriol. Interestingly, butanetriol is a precursor to two
cholesterol-lowering drugs making this process useful in both pharmaceutical and defense applications."
The bacterial flora in my gut are also capable of producing a lethal nerve gas (lethal to the nerve cells of surrounding noses, at the very least).
Now I know why I fart like a space shuttle launch after eating Indian food. Guess I'd better not try lighting them.
It is by the juice of the coffee bean that thoughts acquire speed, the teeth acquire stains. The stains become a warning
"First thought...just how much of this propellant can be produced by these microbes? It really seems like you'd need quite a bit to launch a missle. Can this be done from the work of some microbes?"
Replace "propellant" with "alcohol" and "launch a missle" with "supply the fans at an NFL game" and proceed to ponder your question.
You are the lucky recipient of the 500,000th positive mod point to be wasted on a "they should be working on a cure for cancer instead" troll! Tell him what he's won, Bob!
Well, Lisa, our lucky winner Kethinov will have all work that previously would've been done to make other things in his life donated to the cause for cancer. His auto mechanic will begin working on a cure for cancer instead of fixing his car. His favorite restraunt chefs will be joining the cause as well. His alumni association has been contacted, and all of his university professors from English to Biology to Statistics will be dropping all of their research too to start on the bold search for a cure to cancer because he has decreed that all other avenues of work are worthless as long as cancer does not have a cure.
But wait, Bob, there's more!
To avoid any slightest hint of hypocrisy, Kethinov has been fired from his current job which did not allow him to work towards the cure for cancer. Now he will be free to pursue any job which advances a cure for cancer.
Congratulations!