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Genetic engineering
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=== Industrial === {{Main|Industrial microbiology}}Organisms can have their cells transformed with a gene coding for a useful protein, such as an enzyme, so that they will [[Protein expression (biotechnology)|overexpress]] the desired protein. Mass quantities of the protein can then be manufactured by growing the transformed organism in [[bioreactor]] equipment using [[industrial fermentation]], and then [[Protein purification|purifying]] the protein.<ref>{{cite web|title=Applications of Genetic Engineering |publisher=Microbiologyprocedure |url=http://www.microbiologyprocedure.com/microbial-genetics/applications-of-genetic-engineering.htm |access-date=9 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110714085807/http://www.microbiologyprocedure.com/microbial-genetics/applications-of-genetic-engineering.htm |archive-date=14 July 2011 }}</ref> Some genes do not work well in bacteria, so yeast, insect cells or mammalian cells can also be used.<ref>{{cite web|title=Biotech: What are transgenic organisms? |publisher=Easyscience |year=2002 |url=http://www.easyscience.co.nz/ubbiology/biotech/lesson4.htm |access-date=9 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100527060202/http://www.easyscience.co.nz/ubbiology/biotech/lesson4.htm |archive-date=27 May 2010 }}</ref> These techniques are used to produce medicines such as [[insulin]], [[human growth hormone]], and [[vaccine]]s, supplements such as [[tryptophan]], aid in the production of food ([[chymosin]] in cheese making) and fuels.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Making Gasoline from Bacteria: A biotech startup wants to coax fuels from engineered microbes|first=Neil|last=Savage|name-list-style=vanc|date=1 August 2007|url=http://www.technologyreview.com/biztech/19128/|magazine=[[MIT Technology Review]]|access-date=16 July 2015|archive-date=9 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200409015344/https://www.technologyreview.com/biztech/19128/}}</ref> Other applications with genetically engineered bacteria could involve making them perform tasks outside their natural cycle, such as making [[biofuel]]s,<ref>{{cite web | last = Summers | first = Rebecca | name-list-style = vanc | date = 24 April 2013 | url = https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn23431-bacteria-churn-out-first-ever-petrollike-biofuel.html | title = Bacteria churn out first ever petrol-like biofuel | work = New Scientist | access-date = 27 April 2013 }}</ref> cleaning up oil spills, carbon and other toxic waste<ref>{{cite web|title=Applications of Some Genetically Engineered Bacteria |url=http://www.molecular-plant-biotechnology.info/use-of-microbes-in-industry-and-agriculture/applications-of-genetically-engineered-bacteria.htm |access-date=9 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127053814/http://molecular-plant-biotechnology.info/use-of-microbes-in-industry-and-agriculture/applications-of-genetically-engineered-bacteria.htm |archive-date=27 November 2010 }}</ref> and detecting arsenic in drinking water.<ref>{{cite web | last = Sanderson | first = Katherine | name-list-style = vanc | date = 24 February 2012 | url = http://cen.acs.org/articles/90/web/2012/02/New-Portable-Kit-Detects-Arsenic.html | title = New Portable Kit Detects Arsenic in Wells | work = Chemical and Engineering News | access-date = 23 January 2013 }}</ref> Certain genetically modified microbes can also be used in [[biomining]] and [[bioremediation]], due to their ability to extract heavy metals from their environment and incorporate them into compounds that are more easily recoverable.<ref>{{Cite book|title = Campbell Biology Ninth Edition|last1 = Reece|first1 = Jane B.|first2 = Lisa A.|last2 = Urry|last3 = Cain|first3 = Michael L.|last4 = Wasserman|first4 = Steven A.|last5 = Minorsky|first5 = Peter V.|last6 = Jackson|first6 = Robert B.|name-list-style = vanc|publisher = Pearson Benjamin Cummings|year = 2011|isbn = 978-0-321-55823-7|location = San Francisco|page = [https://archive.org/details/campbellbiologyj00reec/page/421 421]|url = https://archive.org/details/campbellbiologyj00reec/page/421}}</ref> In [[materials science]], a genetically modified virus has been used in a research laboratory as a scaffold for assembling a more environmentally friendly [[lithium-ion battery]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2009/virus-battery-0402.html |title= New virus-built battery could power cars, electronic devices |publisher=Web.mit.edu |date=2 April 2009 |access-date=17 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102647672 |title=Hidden Ingredient in New, Greener Battery: A Virus |newspaper=Npr.org |access-date=17 July 2010}}</ref> Bacteria have also been engineered to function as sensors by expressing a fluorescent protein under certain environmental conditions.<ref>{{cite web|title=Researchers Synchronize Blinking 'Genetic Clocks' β Genetically Engineered Bacteria That Keep Track of Time|website=ScienceDaily|date=24 January 2010|url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100120131157.htm}}</ref>
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