GMO for Green Energy production

GMO for Green Energy production

Solar energy is a good thing, but there is just one "but": With current batteries, for example, it is difficult to store the energy that accumulates during production peaks. It would take a tool to flatten the sinusoidal production curve. In the article "N-Butanol production by Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1" in the journal Communications Biology, a solution to the problem is presented: If genetic modification of the bacterial strain TIE-1 rhodopseudomonas palustris is made, this bacterial strain can be used to produce biofuel such as n-butanol. Palustris bacteria are naturally able to break down carbon dioxide using single free electrons. This effect can be amplified 200-fold through genetic modification and make the microbes synthesize just the required substances. Scientists propose to develop a technology in which bacterial colonies are placed on electrodes connected to solar cells. In this way, carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere and the energy generated is resource-efficient and free. This technology can also get the ball rolling for negative emissions.

Source: Wei Bai, Tahina Onina Ranaivoarisoa, Rajesh Singh, Karthikeyan Rengasamy & Arpita Bose: N-Butanol production by Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1, in: Communications biology 4 (2021) published on 11/03/2021 on nature.com: https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-021-02781-z#Sec2, last access 11/16/2021 at 9:00.