06/26/2015

Move Over E.Coli: DARPA’s Quest for Next-Gen Bugs

12:02 minutes

"Yarrowia lipolytica" cells, which could be an interesting alternative to "E.coli" and yeast for genetic engineering. Photo by A doubt/CC BY-SA 3.0
“Yarrowia lipolytica” cells, which could be an interesting alternative to “E.coli” and yeast for genetic engineering. Photo by A doubt/CC BY-SA 3.0

Yeast and E. coli are the workhorses of synthetic biology, reprogrammed and reinvented to manufacture medicine and chemicals. But Alicia Jackson, deputy director of DARPA’s Biological Technologies Office, says it’s time to investigate the potential of all sorts of bugs, like Yarrowia lipolytica—which she says could be used to pump out novel polymers. Those synthetic biology tricks could result in all sorts of advantages for the military, she says, like more durable tires, or fuel that doesn’t freeze.

Segment Guests

Alicia Jackson

Alicia Jackson is deputy director of the DARPA Biological Technologies Office in Arlington, Virginia.

Meet the Producer

About Christopher Intagliata

Christopher Intagliata was Science Friday’s senior producer. He once served as a prop in an optical illusion and speaks passable Ira Flatowese.