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Microbes harvest electrons: Novel process discovered
Science Daily ^ | Nov 5, 2019 | Washington University

Posted on 11/08/2019 2:33:15 PM PST by Openurmind

Ever since scientists discovered that certain microbes can get their energy from electrical charges, researchers have wondered how they do it.

Bacteria don't have mouths, so they need another way to bring their fuel into their bodies. New research from Washington University in St. Louis reveals how one such bacteria pulls in electrons straight from an electrode source. The work from the laboratory of Arpita Bose, assistant professor of biology in Arts & Sciences, was published Nov. 5 in the scientific journal mBio.

"The molecular underpinning of this process has been difficult to unravel until our work," Bose said. "This is mostly due to the complex nature of the proteins involved in this process. But now, for the first time, we understand how phototrophic microbes can accept electrons from solid and soluble substances."

(Excerpt) Read more at sciencedaily.com ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Education; Health/Medicine; Science
KEYWORDS: arpitabose; astronomy; bacteria; deepoceanvents; electrons; extremophiles; godsgravesglyphs; ihavenomouthand; imustscream; microbes; panspermia; science; xplanets
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To: rightwingcrazy

Right on, thank you!


21 posted on 11/08/2019 3:24:18 PM PST by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
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To: rightwingcrazy

Always interested in these things, other than the normal everyday influences of bacteria, I have been into processing gold as a hobby since I was a kid. Found something interesting about gold and other heavy metals and bacteria about 5 years ago that I would like to play with someday for extracting.

https://phys.org/news/2018-02-bacteria-gold-digesting-toxic-metals.html


22 posted on 11/08/2019 3:30:48 PM PST by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
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To: Openurmind

Thanks. Reminds me of my dog. There’s nothing she won’t eat.


23 posted on 11/08/2019 3:33:14 PM PST by rightwingcrazy (;-)
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To: Deaf Smith

Read your post 13 again.

It said “Pigeon”, not “Pig Pen”

Don’t you just hate autocorrect?

https://interestingengineering.com/15-worst-autocorrect-mistakes-people-have-sent-their-bosses


24 posted on 11/08/2019 3:37:57 PM PST by Alas Babylon! (The media is after us. Trump's just in the way.)
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To: Openurmind

,,,,Getting the electricity across the outer layer of the bacteria is the key challenge,,,,, the naturally occurring strain of Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1 builds a conduit to accept electrons across its outer membrane.....

Biofuel production is good, What are the medical implications in treating resistant bacteria? A non-toxic conduit across the membrane means a wide open door. Wow. Or creating a cell-based electronically driven robot arm or leg? or?


25 posted on 11/08/2019 4:00:11 PM PST by blueplum ("...this moment is your moment: it belongs to you... " President Donald J. Trump, Jan 20, 2017)
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To: Openurmind

Sounds like a Roger Corman movie.


26 posted on 11/08/2019 4:01:23 PM PST by Seruzawa (TANSTAAFL!)
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To: Openurmind

I know most people think - how can we harness this for clean energy. My first thought was a electron treading bacteria bomb. Maybe it’s just me.


27 posted on 11/08/2019 4:12:03 PM PST by wgmalabama (Mittens is the new Juan. Go away mittens)
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To: wgmalabama

Damn auto correct. Electron Eating bomb.


28 posted on 11/08/2019 4:15:05 PM PST by wgmalabama (Mittens is the new Juan. Go away mittens)
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To: Alas Babylon!
Wish i could turn off autocorrect.

Try again...

Pigpen

Had to override auto on that one.

29 posted on 11/08/2019 4:36:17 PM PST by Deaf Smith (When a Texan takes his chances, chances will be taken that's fore sure)
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To: piasa

Solar


30 posted on 11/08/2019 5:32:55 PM PST by tired&retired (Blessings)
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To: Openurmind; KevinDavis; annie laurie; Knitting A Conundrum; Viking2002; Ernest_at_the_Beach; ...
Thanks Openurmind. A nice two-list ping topic!
Extremophile / panspermia / exobiology / extrasolar planets ping!
 
X-Planets
· join · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post new topic · subscribe ·
Google news searches: exoplanet · exosolar · extrasolar ·

31 posted on 11/09/2019 9:08:33 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: 240B; 75thOVI; Adder; albertp; asgardshill; At the Window; bitt; blu; BradyLS; cajungirl; ...
Thanks Openurmind. A nice two-list ping topic!
Here are the other GGG topics introduced since the previous Digest ping:

32 posted on 11/09/2019 9:17:29 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: Openurmind

“Life, Captain. But not as we know it.”


33 posted on 11/09/2019 9:30:06 AM PST by BradyLS (DO NOT FEED THE BEARS!)
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To: SunkenCiv

Absolutely my privilege sir. :)


34 posted on 11/09/2019 11:10:48 AM PST by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
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To: Openurmind
And keep it up, particularly any unfettered praise, I eat that up. ;^)

35 posted on 11/09/2019 11:22:28 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Hey, there ain’t no denying it, you are good at what you do.

Seriously, all the extra effort you make to keep track of all these is an asset here. :)

Nuff yet? need some more?


36 posted on 11/09/2019 11:42:10 AM PST by Openurmind (The ultimate test of a moral society is the kind of world it leaves to its children. ~ D. Bonhoeffer)
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To: blueplum; SunkenCiv; tired&retired; Openurmind; All

Could this have some implications with regard to the blood/brain barrier? If so, might it have medical implications for the treatment of brain cancer an other ills in the brain that medicine can not reach at this time??


37 posted on 11/09/2019 11:48:24 AM PST by gleeaikin
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To: Openurmind
[blush]

38 posted on 11/09/2019 10:20:18 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: gleeaikin
It's an interesting idea. But try a search, "what causes cancer" and you'll see that over a century of research has turned up nothing much.

39 posted on 11/09/2019 10:46:38 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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To: Openurmind

Give a microbe an electron, it will eat for a day. Teach a microbe to harvest electrons.....


40 posted on 11/10/2019 5:53:50 AM PST by P.O.E. (Pray for America)
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