Word: bacterias
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Dates: during 1990-1999
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Professor of Biology Colleen M. Cavanaugh loves bacteria...
...graduate school, Cavanaugh spoke up during a colloquium to propose the theory that bacteria live symbiotically within tube worms, metabolizing chemicals to stay alive...
...began in 1987, when as a student at the University of South Florida, he took an $8.50-an-hour lab-assistant job to help pay his tuition. He was assigned to a $20,000 project contracted by a subsidiary of Florida Progress, a local power company, to determine if bacteria can be used to extract ammonia from clinoptilolite, a clay used in filtering water. The clay, similar to Kitty Litter, absorbs ammonia from water and can be cleaned and used over and over...
Unfortunately, the clay also absorbs calcium, and in the cleaning process used by the power company, the calcium forms a sludge that clogs the machinery. If bacteria were used for the cleanup, the company reasoned, only the ammonia would be extracted, and the problem would be solved...
...within the body's cells. Now this theory could hardly be possible without the discovery of DNA itself, a result of basic research. When Francis and Crick searched for DNA, they had no idea of the possibilities ahead. However, without their discovery, bacteriophages and insertion of human genes into bacteria would not be possible or even thinkable. This process now produces human insulin within bacteria, thus allowing diabetics to avoid the side-effects of animal insulin and providing a cheaper source of the drug...