ROCKVILLE, Md. - Scientists from The Institute for Genomic Research (TIGR) and collaborators, funded by the Department of Energy (DOE), have decoded and analyzed the genome of a bacterium, Geobacter sulfurreducens, which has the ability to produce electricity from waste matter.
In a report published in the December 12 issue of Science, the researchers noted that they found the bacterium possesses the ability to transport electrons and "reduce" metal ions as part of its energy-generating metabolism. The authors conclude that Geobacter has the potential for electricity generation.