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Future Cars may Run on Energy Powered by E. Coli Bacteria
January 30, 2008 at 8:07 PM
Research News
After genetically modifying the bacteria, Thomas Wood, a professor in Texas A&M University's Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, has 'tweaked' a strain of E. coli so that it produces substantial amounts of hydrogen.
Specifically, Woods strain produces 140 times more hydrogen than is created in a naturally occurring process.
The finding can prove to be a significant stepping stone on the path to the hydrogen-based economy.
In the study, the research team selectively deleted six specific genes in E. colis DNA. Wood basically transformed the bacterium into a mini hydrogen-producing factory thats powered by sugar i.e. he has enhanced the bacterias naturally occurring glucose-conversion process on a massive scale.
These bacteria have 5,000 genes that enable them to survive environmental changes. When we knock things out, the bacteria become less competitive. We havent given them an ability to do something. They dont gain anything here; they lose. The bacteria that were making are less competitive and less harmful because of whats been removed, Wood said.
With sugar as its main power source, this strain of E. coli can now take advantage of existing and ever-expanding scientific processes aimed at producing sugar from certain crops, such as corn, Wood said.
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