Scientists Create Unlikely Source of Petrol Energy
Jeremy Gutsche — June 15, 2008 — Eco
References: timesonline
Biofuels are expected to be a hot new source for energy, but oil-pooping-bugs? It's true.
Scientists at LS9, a Silicon Valley research firm, have been experimenting with this unlikely source of energy. The scientists have learned that with some genetic alteration, a beaker of 'bug excretion' can contain pure oil.
The Times reported, "Using genetically modified bugs for fermentation is essentially the same as using natural bacteria to produce ethanol, although the energy-intensive final process of distillation is virtually eliminated because the bugs excrete a substance that is almost pump-ready."
The advantage, compared to alternative fuels, is that the world is already structured to consume oil. Accordingly, it is advantageous to find an alternate way to produce oil.
The company, funded by $20 million of venture capital, is using single-cell organisms that measure a billionth the size of an ant.
It's amazing what a $140 oil price will drive us to do...
Scientists at LS9, a Silicon Valley research firm, have been experimenting with this unlikely source of energy. The scientists have learned that with some genetic alteration, a beaker of 'bug excretion' can contain pure oil.
The Times reported, "Using genetically modified bugs for fermentation is essentially the same as using natural bacteria to produce ethanol, although the energy-intensive final process of distillation is virtually eliminated because the bugs excrete a substance that is almost pump-ready."
The advantage, compared to alternative fuels, is that the world is already structured to consume oil. Accordingly, it is advantageous to find an alternate way to produce oil.
The company, funded by $20 million of venture capital, is using single-cell organisms that measure a billionth the size of an ant.
It's amazing what a $140 oil price will drive us to do...
Trend Themes
1. Biofuels - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore the potential of using genetically modified bugs for fermentation to produce biofuels, reducing the need for distillation.
2. Alternative Energy Sources - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Investigate the use of oil-pooping bugs as an alternative energy source, leveraging the existing infrastructure designed for oil consumption.
3. Genetic Modification - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop advancements in genetic modification to optimize the efficiency and productivity of organisms used for energy production.
Industry Implications
1. Energy - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Revolutionize the energy industry by integrating biofuels derived from genetically modified bugs into the existing energy ecosystem.
2. Biotechnology - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Apply cutting-edge biotechnology to develop and optimize genetically modified organisms for various sustainable energy production applications.
3. Venture Capital - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Invest in and support startups with innovative approaches to biofuels and alternative energy sources, such as LS9 with its oil-pooping bugs research.
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