synthetic biology
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The Future Will Run On Algae
In the 20th century, oil was black gold. But as we march deeper into the twenty-first century, we could have a lucrative new fuel on our hands. One that’s blue-green and sometimes a little smelly. It’s found in wastewater, but it’s capable of powering jets. It’s algae.
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A Perfume That Smells Like Roses — But Is Actually Made From Yeast
A rose is a rose is a rose, except when it’s actually a yeast. A company called Gingko BioWorks in Boston is partnering with French fragrance company Robertet to create a genetically modified yeast that makes the rose oil used in perfumes.
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Future Painkillers Might Be Made From Yeast, Not Poppies
Ever since humans first noticed the mind-altering effects of poppies, we’ve planted vast fields of the flowers to make drugs that range from the legal (morphine) to the illegal (heroin). Our strongest legitimate painkillers still originate in these large, unwieldy, and pesky-to-regulate poppy fields. But what if we could just brew vats of morphine-making yeast?
