Word: bacterias
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Scientists will take bacteria called Pseudomonas syringae, which are found on nearly all plants, and extract the gene that causes ice crystals to form when the bacteria come in contact with a plant and the temperature falls to between 20 degrees F and 32 degrees F. The altered bacteria will be sprayed on one-tenth of an acre of strawberry plants and are expected to prevent the plants' blossoms and leaves from freezing. AGS predicts that the product could have sales of up to $100 million annually to farmers...
...based Center for Science in the Public Interest concedes. "But the public is by no means protected." About 7 million lbs. of sulfites are now used in the U.S. each year, on far more than fresh produce. Vintners rely upon sulfites to arrest fermentation and block the growth of bacteria in wine. They are routinely added to make cake and cookie mixes less sticky and to preserve canned and frozen vegetables, dried fruits, instant mashed-potato mixes, breads, salad dressings, fruit juices and soft drinks...
Perhaps the most innovative technology involves the use of bacteria. A small Texas company called Detox Industries has developed microbes that eat PCBs, creosote and pentachlorophenol. Microbiologist Ananda Chakrabarty of the University of Illinois in Chicago has used a patented "molecular breeding" process to achieve the evolution of a bug that can convert the chief ingredient of the herbicide Agent Orange, 2,4,5-T, into carbon dioxide and chloride. In laboratory tests, his bacteria are so dependent upon the chemical that once they have consumed whatever is available they...
...better than Microbiologist James Whitlock of the Homestake Mining Co. He found a solution to the problems caused when the company dumped water laced with cyanide, which is used to leach gold out of ore, into South Dakota's Whitewood Creek. Whitlock examined waste-water samples until he found bacteria, grew them in the lab, then exposed them to higher and higher levels of cyanide and saved the survivors. He then installed these superbugs in a brand new $10 million water-treatment plant, putting billions of them on each of the 48 rotating disks that make up the plant...
...other ailments could prove to be a complicated business. In any case, the next step for researchers will be to produce enough angiogenin for study. Right now, Vallee has no more than 100 micrograms (.0000035 oz.) of the precious substance, but he hopes to use either genetically engineered bacteria or yeast to produce more of it before long. Although research with angiogenin is just beginning, he says, "the potential boggles the mind...