Biofuel That Grows Like A Magic Mushroom
by Karin Kloosterman, Jerusalem, Israel on 03. 7.07
The race is on. With the threat of global warming looming over our heads and rising oil prices -- politicians, environmentalists and everyone in between can agree that the world needs alternative fuel sources (and to diversify its fuel sources). Some people are afraid that today’s best alternatives: biofuels from corn and soy will be destructive to the planet in certain ways as farmers in developing nations slash and burn forests to grow new crops. An Israeli scientist, Prof. Amir Sharon, may have discovered the next best alternative: a funky fungi in the form of a genetically-modified mushroom that yields a large biomass which can be converted into a first-rate biofuel.
Sharon and his team from the Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University have developed a transformation-based approach to cultivating fungi (Aspergillus niger) which means that they have genetically-engineered them to be less sensitive to external conditions and environmental stresses; the mushrooms are more sustainable in culture during fermentation, and have both enhanced growth rate and spore production. As a result, the fungal cultures exhibit a dramatic increase in fresh and dry biomass production, reduced sensitivity to stress conditions, enhanced spore production and extended viability.
TO SEE A VIDEO OF AMIR SHARON CLICK HERE
The idea of an engineered renewable and versatile biomass which is easy to produce is something which would really help proliferate the biofuel option in transportation. But will they control this type of growth. I'm all for people being capable of fueling themselves cleanly but a species of flora which can so easily grow, regenerate, and most importantly spread; if cultivated in an uncontrolled, open environment could seriously damage any ecosystem if it were allowed to grow on its own, could it not? I hope things like this will help, and though everything has a dangerous side as anyone who as any interest in sustainability knows, if it can't be of use to a layman; at least it will probably garner official corporate champions. It gives them something to sell.
As a bonus, aspergillus niger also helps fight global warming as the source of the main active ingredient (the Alpha-galactosidase enzyme) in Beano.
To paraphrase Homer Simpson:
"Ah, aspergillus niger - is there anything you can't do?"
As a fungus, it can't photosynthesize. You would need a feed crop to grow it on (I don't see one named). Would this not produce the same problems as eating meat, that energy is lost in every step down?
Perhaps it is such a good biofuel it is worth the extra work. I don't know.
What?!...so the humans have used up nearly all the oil they found....so to keep moving their big vehicles.....they re-engineer the mushroooms??!?.......please remember to leave SOME foods left for us non-humans!!!
Jesus christ! enough with the damn biofuels! and all you veggies out there, crying out loud becos people wants to eat meat once in a while, and you guys are actually supporting this half-assed idea?
Liquid fuels ARE INNEFICIENT get it? the only way to go besides walking is electric. So get some NiMH batteries and a neodymium engine or buy a bike at walmart...........before burning the build down.
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