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Article: Waking up ancient lifeScientists are discovering microbes that are millions of years old, says Bernar d Dixon
- Article from:
- The Independent (London, England)
- Article date:
- December 13, 1994
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 1994 The Independent - London. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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The truly modern microbe is one that has been selected from a
population of billions, or designed by genetic engineering, to
direct some sophisticated money-making process for the
biotechnology industry. By the same token, the microbe of
yesteryear seemsrather a dull fellow - its activities unrecorded,
its praises unsung, its DNA unmodified.
Now the day of the ancient microbe may be at hand. That is
certainly the view of Max Kennedy and colleagues at the New Zealand
Institute for Industrial Research and Development in Lower Hutt,
New Zealand. They believe that bacteria and other microbes
recovered and rejuvenated after millions of years could generate
valuable substances that are not ...