MOVE over, Midas. A genetically modified version of a bacterium that extracts gold from its environment can signal the presence of the precious metal. The result could be a boon for prospectors.
Some bacteria have long been known to be associated with gold deposits, but it has been unclear whether they play a role in its production – and if so, how they do it. Now , South Australia, has found that dissolved gold is harmful to the bacterium Cupriavidus metallidurans, as it forms a toxic, sulphur-containing compound when it is absorbed from the…
