Scientists find bugs that eat waste and excrete petrol

**samechick** · 06-15-2008, 01:13 AM

Silicon Valley is experimenting with bacteria that have been genetically altered to provide 'renewable petroleum'

Quote:

Ten years ago I could never have imagined I’d be doing this,” says Greg Pal, 33, a former software executive, as he squints into the late afternoon Californian sun. “I mean, this is essentially agriculture, right? But the people I talk to – especially the ones coming out of business school – this is the one hot area everyone wants to get into.”

He means bugs. To be more precise: the genetic alteration of bugs – very, very small ones – so that when they feed on agricultural waste such as woodchips or wheat straw, they do something extraordinary. They excrete crude oil.

Unbelievably, this is not science fiction. Mr Pal holds up a small beaker of bug excretion that could, theoretically, be poured into the tank of the giant Lexus SUV next to us. Not that Mr Pal is willing to risk it just yet. He gives it a month before the first vehicle is filled up on what he calls “renewable petroleum”. After that, he grins, “it’s a brave new world”.

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**Sirk** · 06-15-2008, 02:27 PM

genetically altered... don't these people watch movies? This always ends badly!

**Nate** · 06-29-2008, 02:34 AM

it sounds like a good thing though. We aren't eating it. We eat enough genetically engineered food (which I do not think is a good thing). But if we do that I don't see how creating Gas with bugs could harm us.

**akevin** · 03-28-2009, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirk

genetically altered... don't these people watch movies? This always ends badly!

HA i feel you are right dude!!! whenever we go against law... there comes threat to that development... god has created this beautiful world with lot of care and intricacies... if thee people unravel the secrets of life that is acceptable... but when they make modifications to it it becomes bad to the human society......

**akevin** · 04-30-2009, 03:45 AM

this looks good and bad think