Famed geneticist creating life form that turns CO2 to fuel

[RWSchilz]

MONTEREY, California (AFP) - A scientist who mapped his genome and the genetic diversity of the oceans said Thursday he is creating a life form that feeds on climate-ruining carbon dioxide to produce fuel. Geneticist Craig Venter disclosed his potentially world-changing "fourth-generation fuel" project at an elite Technology, Entertainment and Design conference in Monterey, California.

"We have modest goals of replacing the whole petrochemical industry and becoming a major source of energy," Venter told an audience that included global warming fighter Al Gore and Google co-founder Larry Page. "We think we will have fourth-generation fuels in about 18 months, with CO2 as the fuel stock." Simple organisms can be genetically re-engineered to produce vaccines or octane-based fuels as waste, according to Venter. Biofuel alternatives to oil are third-generation. The next step is life forms that feed on CO2 and give off fuel such as methane gas as waste, according to Venter.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080228/ts_afp/scienceusitgenetics

:thinking:idunno:)

[Amanda's mom]

This is not good, not good at all. The trees and plants need CO2 to live, they give off our oxygen which we need to live. If this gets loose in the environment, it would not be good.

[Nova]

If this gets loose in the environment, it would not be good.

Yeh, that is the kinda thing I worry about too. Sounds good on the surface. But what are the risks with genetically engineered single cell organisms?

That is why I like the algae to fuel. At least, we know how to manage algae.

[Rinji]

So, if algae can be used for fuel, someone is just reinventing the wheel for a patent and profit.
History repeats itself yet again.