Genetically Modified Bacteria Used To Create Precursor To Morphine
Although it ’s mostly harmless , some strains of the bacteriumE. colican make fairly dangerous health problems , like infections orfood poisoning . A squad of Nipponese bioengineers has now genetically engineered this common gut microbe in orderliness for it to take on a very different theatrical role : producing painkiller precursors chemically related to morphine , as report in a new study inNature Communications . Morphine is an opiate , sourced fromraw opiumfrom the seed of the opium poppy ....