Talk:CH391L/S12/Bioprospecting: Difference between revisions
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*'''[[User:Ben Slater|Ben Slater]] 17:27, 3 February 2012 (EST)''':Under '''Cellulosic Biomass degrading genes found in Cow Rumen''', you say "These microbes cannot be cultured in lab." Given that the vast majority of life can't be cultured in a lab, I was wondering about what potential exists for different culturing conditions that would allow this to change. What obstacles are blocking us from a wider array of culturable microbes, and is it possible to bypass these barriers? Increasing the pool of bioprospecting sources seems like it would be very helpful, as you never know what crazy thing nature has already invented that we can hijack. | *'''[[User:Ben Slater|Ben Slater]] 17:27, 3 February 2012 (EST)''':Under '''Cellulosic Biomass degrading genes found in Cow Rumen''', you say "These microbes cannot be cultured in lab." Given that the vast majority of life can't be cultured in a lab, I was wondering about what potential exists for different culturing conditions that would allow this to change. What obstacles are blocking us from a wider array of culturable microbes, and is it possible to bypass these barriers? Increasing the pool of bioprospecting sources seems like it would be very helpful, as you never know what crazy thing nature has already invented that we can hijack. | ||
'''[[User:David M. Truong|David M. Truong]] 20:23, 4 February 2012 (EST)''': Ben, that's an interesting question. Like I mentioned, there are many microbial species living in the vastness of the world's oceans. These microbes have often adapted to incredibly harsh conditions, such as different energy sources such as hydrogen sulfide and/or higher ocean pressures without the need for light. That's not even including organisms on land, that for whatever reason, don't grow well in lab. Although it is tempting to identify a new general culture protocol for these "other" organisms, it might be more prudent to focus on a case by case basis, purely by need. For instance, the recently infamous GFAJ-1 microbe (the arsenic microbe), is also an extremophile and was specially cultured in higher pH. It is interesting because, maybe it uses arsenic in it's DNA (most likely not). But if there is an interesting microbe found in another interesting enviroment, say Mars for example, I think people would definitely focus on that. This isn't the most straight-forward response, but let me get back to you on this. | ::'''[[User:David M. Truong|David M. Truong]] 20:23, 4 February 2012 (EST)''': Ben, that's an interesting question. Like I mentioned, there are many microbial species living in the vastness of the world's oceans. These microbes have often adapted to incredibly harsh conditions, such as different energy sources such as hydrogen sulfide and/or higher ocean pressures without the need for light. That's not even including organisms on land, that for whatever reason, don't grow well in lab. Although it is tempting to identify a new general culture protocol for these "other" organisms, it might be more prudent to focus on a case by case basis, purely by need. For instance, the recently infamous GFAJ-1 microbe (the arsenic microbe), is also an extremophile and was specially cultured in higher pH. It is interesting because, maybe it uses arsenic in it's DNA (most likely not). But if there is an interesting microbe found in another interesting enviroment, say Mars for example, I think people would definitely focus on that. This isn't the most straight-forward response, but let me get back to you on this. |
Revision as of 18:26, 4 February 2012
David M. Truong 16:24, 30 January 2012 (EST):If anyone else has examples of Genes/proteins used today found by prospecting, please add it and put a sentence description
- Ben Slater 17:27, 3 February 2012 (EST):Under Cellulosic Biomass degrading genes found in Cow Rumen, you say "These microbes cannot be cultured in lab." Given that the vast majority of life can't be cultured in a lab, I was wondering about what potential exists for different culturing conditions that would allow this to change. What obstacles are blocking us from a wider array of culturable microbes, and is it possible to bypass these barriers? Increasing the pool of bioprospecting sources seems like it would be very helpful, as you never know what crazy thing nature has already invented that we can hijack.
- David M. Truong 20:23, 4 February 2012 (EST): Ben, that's an interesting question. Like I mentioned, there are many microbial species living in the vastness of the world's oceans. These microbes have often adapted to incredibly harsh conditions, such as different energy sources such as hydrogen sulfide and/or higher ocean pressures without the need for light. That's not even including organisms on land, that for whatever reason, don't grow well in lab. Although it is tempting to identify a new general culture protocol for these "other" organisms, it might be more prudent to focus on a case by case basis, purely by need. For instance, the recently infamous GFAJ-1 microbe (the arsenic microbe), is also an extremophile and was specially cultured in higher pH. It is interesting because, maybe it uses arsenic in it's DNA (most likely not). But if there is an interesting microbe found in another interesting enviroment, say Mars for example, I think people would definitely focus on that. This isn't the most straight-forward response, but let me get back to you on this.