DailyDirt: Tiny Drug Factories

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

Tue, Feb 28th 2012 5:00pm — Joyce Hung

Brand name pharmaceutical drugs are ridiculously expensive, but how much does it really cost to manufacture a drug? A potentially low-cost method is to use microorganisms -- which are plentiful -- to synthesize chemical compounds. For example, synthetic insulin is now made using genetically modified bacteria. Here are a few other examples.

Are you depressed? You can use open-source DNA code from the Registry of Standard Biological Parts to genetically engineer yogurt bacteria to make Prozac. The process takes 4-5 days, and anyone can purchase the DNA code online. [url]
Researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies have created a strain of bacteria that can incorporate artificial amino acids into proteins at multiple sites. This could be used to engineer bacteria to produce a variety of synthetic chemicals. [url]
Green algae could be a cheaper alternative to bacteria in the manufacture of therapeutic drugs. While bacterial cultures require lots of energy and nutrients to maintain, the algae need only sunlight and carbon dioxide in the air. [url]
To discover more interesting science-related stuff, check out what's currently floating around the StumbleUpon universe. [url]

By the way, StumbleUpon can recommend some good Techdirt articles, too.

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Filed Under: algae, chemical synthesis, dna, drugs, gm bacteria, microorganisms, pharmaceuticals, proteins

16 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 28 Feb 2012 @ 5:12pm

Amazing
I can't wait until we are able to make our own drugs using things like those microorganisms and nano-bots, in some kind of micro-medical device. And make our own tissue, organs and whole body parts from our own DNA by using 3D printers.
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Torg (profile), 28 Feb 2012 @ 5:29pm

I love the phrase "open-source DNA code". So much glorious hubris! The Tower of Babel's got nothing on Prozac.
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- Anonymous Coward, 28 Feb 2012 @ 5:45pm
  
  Re:
  I can see the torrents now:
  
  Prozac (1977) Anti-Depressant, double helix 1080p -Drugrip
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That Anonymous Coward (profile), 28 Feb 2012 @ 6:24pm

This is much more useful...

Making Sudafed from Crystal Meth...
http://boingboing.net/2012/02/27/scientific-paper-of-the-day-h.html

It might be slightly easier than trying ot get sudafed form a pharmacy
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- Anonymous Coward, 28 Feb 2012 @ 6:40pm
  
  Re:
  Please note: it a joke.
  I hope some fool doesn't actually try making it and ending up with meth.
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  - Zos (profile), 28 Feb 2012 @ 8:28pm
    
    Re: Re:
    umm, if they start with meth, i'm pretty sure that whatever they end up with, won't still be meth.
    
    On that note, let's breed a bug that makes meth...
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    - Anonymous Coward, 28 Feb 2012 @ 8:33pm
      
      Re: Re: Re:
      You didn't understand, they'd first have to make Crystal Meth. After which, they'd try using the instructions from the parody paper, but since those are fake, all they'll have on their hands is the meth they started with.
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      - That Anonymous Coward (profile), 28 Feb 2012 @ 10:38pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        No first you'd have to score crystal meth, which has alot less restrictions than getting ahold of Sudafed.
        
        "A Simple and Convenient Synthesis of Pseudoephedrine From N-Methylamphetamine, by O. Hai and I. B. Hakkenshit."
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      - Pixelation, 28 Feb 2012 @ 10:51pm
        
        Re: Re: Re: Re:
        "all they'll have on their hands is the meth they started with."
        
        Here's another fine meth you've gotten me into...
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fb39ca4, 28 Feb 2012 @ 6:25pm

DNA piracy...now there's an idea...
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- That Anonymous Coward (profile), 29 Feb 2012 @ 5:35pm
  
  Re:
  Monsanos business model?
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Feb 2012 @ 8:48pm

http://www.tuurvanbalen.com/

I like the pigeons pooping detergent part :)
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- fb39ca4, 28 Feb 2012 @ 8:55pm
  
  Re:
  cool now when a pigeon takes a crap on your new jacket it will actually end up cleaner than it was before :D
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Anonymous Coward, 28 Feb 2012 @ 9:41pm

It just occurred to me that making homemade yogurt using store bought yogurt as a base - something that has been done for generations already - is actually illegal under today's copyright laws. Especially since most store bought yogurts now use genetically modified bacteria. To think that my poor old grandmother could be dragged before a magistrate for her heinous crime against humanity!
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- Torg (profile), 29 Feb 2012 @ 6:38am
  
  Re:
  It's a travesty is what it is. Twisting nature to suit our desires is a fundamental human right, and these corporations are trampling all over it.
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LolaBowling (profile), 29 Feb 2012 @ 6:13am

Very usefull. I'm going to cook some aspirin... ;)
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