These bacteria produce gold by digesting toxic metals

(Martin-Luther-Universit ä t Halle-Wittenberg) High concentrations of heavy metals, like copper and gold, are toxic for most living creatures. This is not the case for the bacterium C. metallidurans, which has found a way to extract valuable trace elements from a compound of heavy metals without poisoning itself. One interesting side-effect: the formation of tiny gold nuggets. A team of researchers led by Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU) has discovered the molecular processes that take place inside the bacteria.
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - Category: Biology Source Type: news