E. coli bacteria are usually known as bacteria that can cause diarrheal disease

Eschericia coli or E. coli bacteria are usually known as bacteria that can cause diarrheal disease. But it turns out bad bacteria can also be used as a future source of energy.

E.coli is not only related to disease and food poisoning. Based on the study, the bacteria that causeThis diarrhea can also be used as a key renewable energy sources (sources not discharged) in the future.
Researchers from Rutgers University, Camden, in collaboration with Harvard University to examine how changing the genetic composition of E. coli that can produce biodiesel fuel derived from fatty acids.
"If we can make the engineering of biological organisms to produce biodiesel fuel, we will have new ways to store and use energy," said Desmond Lun, a professor of computer science at Rutgers University, as quoted by the ScienceDaily, Wednesday (09/08/2010) .

Creating renewable energy by making the fuel, such as making ethanol from corn, has become common practice in an effort to achieve energy sustainability.
"But making fuel from food sources is not sustainable. It is too expensive and will compete with our food sources," Lun said.
According to Lun, one alternative is to change the E.coli microorganisms to make them produce more fatty acids, which will be used to make biodiesel.

"Fatty acid molecules are no different than most molecules and biodiesel fuel is an easy thing we produce. E.coli has been used as a laboratory organism for more than 60 years and we know a lot about genes and how to manipulate it. We need to make changes drastic enough to do so and require a large intervention, "explained Lun.
This is where the skills used in computer science Lun. Lun build computational models of E. coli organisms to determine what would happen if there are changes. Changes could include removing the enzyme to increase the production of fatty acids.

"We call it synthetic biology. This kind of advanced phase of genetic engineering. Not only do small changes, but we really change the main part of the gene," Lun said.
Lun explained, when the production of fatty acids in bacteria change increases, it will pave the way for the development of biofuels and biodiesel. This means that E. coli can be a source of energy a promising future.