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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!decwrl!pyramid!octopus!byron
From: byron@octopus.UUCP (Mike Byron)
Newsgroups: net.bio
Subject: Rumor about "germs" used for gold mining.
Message-ID: <168@octopus.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 5-Nov-85 23:55:58 EST
Article-I.D.: octopus.168
Posted: Tue Nov  5 23:55:58 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 8-Nov-85 20:23:19 EST
Reply-To: byron@octopus.UUCP (Mike Byron)
Organization: Octopus Enterprises, Cupertino, CA
Lines: 10
Keywords: Mining, Genetic

A friend of mine was trying to explain to me about a new "germ" someone
has developed thru genetic engineering that is now being applied to gold
mining.  My friend has no biological training, so the way in which the bug
is used was kind of garbled.  It had something to do with the bugs inserting
themselves between the gold ore and the geological substrate, and carrying
with them an arsenic compound that helped to dissolve the ore out of the rock.

Does anybody out there have details about this?  Seems like an odd, but useful
application of genetic engineering.  I'd appreciate either an informed
explanation or a reference for an article to read...