Genetically modified E. coli pump out morphine precursor
Thursday, February 25, 2016 - 12:01
in Biology & Nature
Bioengineers have tweaked Escherichia coli genes so that they pump out thebaine, a morphine precursor that can be modified to make painkillers. The genetically modified E. coli produces 300 times more thebaine with minimal risk of unregulated use compared to a recently developed method involving yeast.