Antibody transistor grabs gold The immune system response in which antibodies bind to specific molecules they recognize has been exploited to create a self-assembling protein-based transistor. The Taiwanese researchers claiming the breakthrough say it could help overcome a difficult hurdle in the world of organic electronics: providing a repeatable way to “ …
1. If your protein is inside the bacterium, it's not got access to the gold outside.
2. If your protein is on the outside, while it's looking for lumps of gold to grab on to, other things in the outside world will be grabbing your protein for a light snack.
But hopeless odds never put off a prospector with gold fever. Go for it. :)
Two good points, but there are plenty of trans-membrane proteins, so it's not really a bigger problem than a micro-organism usually faces. However, what about bio-engineering a jointed protein arm with the gold receptor on the end? Then, once the bacterium has picked up some gold, it can use the jointed arm to whack any predators with a gold club. Easy.
You forgot something :
4. Collect gold-rich bacteria sludge
4.1 Retrieve and sell the gold
4.2 Pay for the loan you had to take in order to fund the massive investment needed to bioengineer significant amount of gold-gathering
4.3 Notice that you still owe a lot to the bank
4.4 Start doing something else
4.5 ???
5. Profit
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