Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site octopus.UUCP 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...