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Technology allows us to do amazing things; thanks to technology, we can now communicate freely over vast distances, treat diseases like never before, and sustain a huge human population across the planet! Biotechnology is a relatively new field of research in which scientists harness complex biological machinery to develop new technology which improves our lives. We're going to explore how microbes have been used in biotechnology, asking 'What do microbes do for us?' Prepare to be amazed, they've done more than you might think!
One Man's Trash Is A Microbe's Dinner! One Microbe's Waste Is A Man's Power!
Dr Tom Clarke
(Lecturer of Biological Sciences at the University of East Anglia )
Hear about the amazing bacteria that don’t need oxygen to breath! Instead, they respire on solid rocks and minerals in the environment around them. This system is being exploited to reduce waste to produce electricity and fuel all with the aim of stopping climate change!
Why You Should Thank Microbes Every Day!
Professor Kay Yeoman
(Professor of Science Communication, School of Biological Sciences at the University of East Anglia)
They might be small but microbes have a huge impact on our lives! From making medicines to fight diseases (that they also often cause) to making a huge range of our favourite foods. Hear about how there’d be no beer, yogurt or bread without these little wonders and how we can use microbes to make the food we eat do us more good!
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