Rock-Breathing Open Doors For Generating Bacterial Electricity!

Soon it will be easier to undertake operations of cleaning up radioactive pollutants from water bodies or #-Link-Snipped-# with human or animal wastes. Scientists at University of East Anglia in collaboration with Pacific North-West National Laboratory (PNNL) has uncovered the mechanism behind respiration of certain bacteria that can survive without oxygen beneath earth's crust simply by breathing rocks or more popularly called Iron-breathing.

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Shewanella Oneidensis

The breakthrough was achieved by the PNNL scientists Dr. John Zachara and Dr. Jim Fredrickson who happened to take part in #-Link-Snipped-# organized by #-Link-Snipped-#. The aim of the study was to understand how energy and mineral exchange took place between these organisms and the rocks deep beneath earth surface.

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Mineral respiration depends on MtrCAB, a transmembrane ‘nanowire’ that allows electrons produced during respiration to be released into solid minerals.

In the research published in leading journal PNAS, unearthed the fact that the bacteria can produce a wire which extends through its cell walls and is used to transfer electrons through it. The wire is the cause of minerals getting sucked in the bacteria and helps it live. This wire is somewhat like that of an earth connection of our households. The Protein on which this research was conducted is called Shewanella Oneidensis.

#-Link-Snipped-# has many technological implications. If further studies are conducted in this regards, we might come across a situation with which we might be able to employ these microbes directly to the electrodes of the fuel cells which might help us in producing energy. Another can be an environmental aspect. As these bacteria feed on minerals and waste, they can also be used to mop up oil spill or similar water pollution; perhaps even radioactive pollution. However presently, the advancement in Bio-batteries is within sight.