Microbial Master-Chemists

Microbial chemistry makes bread rise and cheese mature, and turns grapes into wine. Microbes help make engine fuel, life-saving antibiotics and nano-particle sunscreens. Without fungi and bacteria, the world would sink under its own waste within days, since only these microbes have the ability to degrade complex polymers such as the lignin in plants.
Might we be able to harness this amazing power of microbial degradation to help remove the human-made plastic mountain, or clean up toxic waste sites?
A lecture by Robin May recorded on 11 January 2023 at Barnard's Inn Hall, London.
The transcript and downloadable versions of the lecture are available from the Gresham College website:
www.gresham.ac.uk/watch-now/
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[@zestrixalex3786]

I wish more people would look for that kind of content. Marvelous! Keep it going, Gresham College! Thank you, Robin! Your lectures are entertaining, unveiling and joyful! TY!

[@SW-lw6mt]

Very interesting research going on, thanks for sharing.

[@Namaerica]

So interesting! Thank you.

[@spacelemur7955]

Unfortunately, we always talk about microbes as if they have free will and _want_ to design the chemicals and structures they use. In reality it's mindless natural selection and the accidental variations in the DNA that improve its ability to survive and reproduce tend to be passed on and accidentally improved, or not, by descendants.
What boggles my mind is the number of accidental changes (mostly useless or harmful) and the long sequences of modifications leading to the complexity we see. These chemicals and structures are the result of very small incremental changes without and design goals. It's all just stuff that was accidentally better in the past, then just accidentally improved, and so on.
The number of generations for anything to evolve this complexity can make one swoon if you think on it enough.

[@robertthompson5501]

Enjoy your Kim Chee 🙏👹🏋

[@bazsnell3178]

He talks too fast and the salient facts went by at the speed of light! Overall unimpressed with this lecture.