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Killer Bacteria Could Breathe New Life into Biofuel Producti

CleanTechnica.com -- Put this one in the category of every cloud has a silver lining: E. coli, the bacteria notorious for contaminating food products from lettuce to ground beef, could also play a key role in developing the next generation of biofuels. A team of scientists from Rutgers University is working with computer modeling to tweak the pesky little bug into overproduce fatty acids, which can then be processed into biodiesel.

If the research is successful, chalk up another win for producing biofuels from sustainable, non-food sources that can be grown without competing for land with food crops. The growing list includes weedy plants, woody plants, algae and various microorganisms.
E. coli is short for Escherichia coli, which is a rod-shaped bacteria. Some strains are harmful but others are responsible


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Submitted Sep 04, 2010 By: CiVX
Category: Daily News Article Discussions > Topics Add to favorite topics  
Author Topic: Killer Bacteria Could Breathe New Life into Biofuel Producti Post a Reply Back to Topics
REPLIES (newest first)
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honda0105
Champion Author Tallahassee

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Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 7:05:22 AM

from the posts I've seen on here, seems many folks either never took or slept right through their biology class(es).
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honda0105
Champion Author Tallahassee

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Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 7:04:37 AM

There has already been some work done (and successfully so albeit in the lab).

The bigger issue is to bring it from a small scale operation to a large scale one. That's where the big problems arise.
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honda0105
Champion Author Tallahassee

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Message Posted: Sep 6, 2010 7:03:30 AM

ILVET: guess you will need the propelling forces of E.coli in the cow's stomach for that big a jump.
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WCCurtis
Champion Author San Bernardino

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 10:01:16 AM

An which Century will this happen?
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MidNJ
Champion Author New Jersey

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 8:27:31 AM

This article is a "gas".
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my3sons
Champion Author New York

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 8:12:11 AM

as long as you won't get sick feuling up
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CRAZYEDDIE2010
Veteran Author Ontario

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 7:37:29 AM

I'M WATCHING BACK TO THE FUTURE THIS AFTERNOON.
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MUSTANGSRUS
Champion Author Ontario

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 7:17:38 AM

I like the idea that they can work for us, not against us.
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turbosaab
Champion Author Cleveland

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 7:17:29 AM

This is another great idea, but what is the cost?
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SpruceGuse2
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 7:16:45 AM

Is this going to be cost affective?
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wegman
Champion Author Twin Cities

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 7:16:33 AM

I've seen this before. Most E. coli is harmless, but there is great (and I mean GREAT) diversity in this species. Preferably we will get better than ethanol from this bug.
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hauler43
Champion Author Oakland

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 7:15:59 AM

In the end all most of us care is the cost/gal
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ILVET
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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 7:15:30 AM

And the Cow jumped over the Moon
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FocusGuy
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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 7:14:53 AM

we have lost our collective minds.
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afghaned
Champion Author Hamilton

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 7:10:05 AM

This is very old news.
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janctx
Champion Author Lubbock

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 7:09:20 AM

there is a use for everything
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kyrunner
Champion Author Lexington

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 7:08:40 AM

Bacteria are tough cookies and definitely could be a great source for fuel development.
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tankneverfull
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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 7:08:08 AM

Great for the biofuel industry but what happens when it goes elsewhere?
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albert2008
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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 7:07:20 AM

neat stuff
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FMREALTOR
Champion Author Florida

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 7:05:38 AM

well Duh!
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tomok
Champion Author Portland

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 7:04:50 AM

There are many bacteria that have a waste product that can help produce vehicle fuel. Not all bacteria are bad, yogurt contains bacteria and we eat their ‘poop’ as food! And, there are good strains of E. coli bacteria and they are not dangerous or a killer.
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arinkrat17
Champion Author Twin Cities

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 7:04:45 AM

at least its not from a food source like E85 (corn)
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papou
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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 7:04:10 AM

Sci-fi talking to many movies seen !
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APlus
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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 7:04:03 AM

Good to use things we normally dispose of or in nature for energy.
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RoadhogMA
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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 7:02:04 AM

Sounds good .
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txyankee
Champion Author Milwaukee

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 6:56:45 AM

stick 1 of those bug's up -- oh nevermind; but you know - that guy currently residing in the wh..
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Badmoon
Champion Author Massachusetts

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 6:54:15 AM

There are all kinds of little bugs out there that get by on the stangest things and help break down almost anything.
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BigDogOH
Champion Author Cincinnati

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 6:54:04 AM

ok,the bugs get out and kill us all
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df99
Veteran Author Rhode Island

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 6:53:08 AM

Fuel from waste is the way to go. When can I get some for my diesel!
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Ratdadde
Veteran Author Virginia

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 6:45:44 AM

Tinkering with Mother Nature requires redundant safeguards against creating disaster.
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mk9999
Champion Author Rochester

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 6:40:38 AM

I hope they come up with something soon.
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racerdj
Champion Author Indianapolis

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 6:39:46 AM

Just leave our food supply alone!
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lindact
Champion Author New Haven

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 6:38:43 AM

This type of research usually produces some unexpected offshoot.
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Zankou
Champion Author Pennsylvania

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 6:33:01 AM

Not all Bacteria is Bad.
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ifallsguy
Champion Author Minnesota

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 6:32:36 AM

great headline. Just like Nuclear Bomb clears city
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Ringmaster2008
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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 6:32:24 AM

Agreed, well put traindude
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dave364
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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 6:29:53 AM

go for it
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Don1222
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 6:28:21 AM

Whatever - Move on to alternative fuels.
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biza4u
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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 6:27:28 AM

Just don't breaqthe in the exhaust
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traindude
Champion Author Virginia Beach

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 6:24:18 AM

be nice to burn something that's not so good for us or the planet and produce fuel
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EricON
Veteran Author Ontario

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 6:24:18 AM

playing with bacteria should be used to make food safe not fuel
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humblepie
Champion Author Toledo

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 6:23:33 AM

and it only needs 100 billion or so to make it possible,
............MAYBE................
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rare
Veteran Author Detroit

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 6:21:08 AM

humm, kind of interesting.
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skippypa
Champion Author Hawaii

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 6:18:35 AM

Isn't this kind of dangerous????
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fillerupyeoww
Champion Author Columbus

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 6:16:56 AM

Responsible E.coli??
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JCUBE
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 6:13:19 AM

The Gore driven enviornmindless tree hugging freaks at work again? Let them eat the bacteria along with their lettuce and green weenies.
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BobD2009
Champion Author Long Island

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 6:09:27 AM

This theory sounds far fetched.
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dhawk24
Champion Author Maine

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 6:08:57 AM

Producing bacteria sounds gross to me.
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bad_sailor
Champion Author London

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 6:08:52 AM

That's nice.
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applejoe
Champion Author Twin Cities

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Message Posted: Sep 5, 2010 6:07:50 AM

Some of these scientist have great minds with great imaginations.
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