not your everyday e. coli
Jun 10, 2009
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I’ve always believed the debate over green technology and alternative fuels should focus on the technology and fuel used on the back-end, not on “exotic” or “sexy” products such as hybrid cars. So much of the basic manufacturing and processing of materials that we use in our daily lives use a lot of energy.
Take the manufacturing of fabric–a start-up in San Diego has found a way to biologically make Spandex out of sugar, which could cost 25% less than the same fabric using processes based on fossil fuels. Genetically engineered e. coli secrete a chemical that can be the base material of a bevy of products. While the technology as a ways to go, it’s certainly exciting–in 15 years, we could see materials created using biological processes that in the past relied on fossil fuels. After all, we entered the petroleum age because oil was cheap and plentiful. We’re in transition now, but if the cost of processing sugar and other plant-based products can become sustainable and cheap, this could be one step in the path to stall global warming.
