Bacteria Take a Deadly Risk to Survive









In order for bacteria to survive, they need to change and adapt to survive in certain circumstances and environments. Scientist at the Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics at KU Leuven (University of Leuven), Belgium discovered that these bacteria can adapt at different rates, with this a range of problems may be addressed such as fuel all the way to medicines and treatments for certain diseases. The mutation of bacteria rises when they are under stress, but to much mutation weakens the bacteria. If the balance between the two is to high, the bacteria goes through hypermutation which ultimately kills the cell.


This research is a crucial part of our future because with the control over the balance of a bacteria's mutation will offer new perspectives on the production of biofuel. When the bacteria is put into solutions with high concentration of methanol or ethanol, the bacteria will be able to survive longer under the conditions thus raising the production of biofuel.




Links:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/05/170502112545.htm

https://phys.org/news/2017-05-bacteria-deadly-survive.html