'Cyborg' bacteria deliver green fuel source from sunlight

[nitpicker]

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-40975719

'Cyborg' bacteria deliver green fuel source from sunlight

By Matt McGrath
Environment correspondent

22 August 2017

From the section Science & Environment

Scientists have created bacteria covered in tiny semiconductors that generate a potential fuel source from sunlight, carbon dioxide and water. The so-called "cyborg" bugs produce acetic acid, a chemical that can then be turned into fuel and plastic. In lab experiments, the bacteria proved much more efficient at harvesting sunlight than plants. The work was presented at the American Chemical Society meeting in Washington.

Researchers have been attempting to artificially replicate photosynthesis for many years.
(snip)

This new approach seeks to improve that efficiency by essentially aiming to equip bacteria with solar panels. After combing through old microbiology literature, researchers realised that some bugs have a natural defence to cadmium, mercury or lead that lets them turn the heavy metal into a sulphide which the bacteria express as a tiny, crystal semiconductor on their surfaces.
(snip)

These newly boosted bacteria produce acetic acid, essentially vinegar, from CO2, water and light. They have an efficiency of around 80%, which is four times the level of commercial solar panels, and more than six times the level of chlorophyll.
(snip)

[DetlefK]

1. Evolutionarily speaking, chlorophyll-based photosynthesis is antiquated.

Plants stole chlorophyll-based photosynthesis from the cyanobacteria via lateral gene-transfer. But the difference is how this mechanism is incorporated in the organism.

Cyanobacteria have since moved on from chlorophyll-based photosynthesis and have developed more efficient forms of photosynthesis.
Plants have not moved on and still use the version of photosynthesis from 500 million years ago.