Scientists Use Virus to Generate Electricity

Virus Powered Batteries Producing Clean Power May be Possible

Apr 3, 2009

The idea of generation of electricity from batteries powered by viruses might seem a little bit far-fetched, akin to what people read in science fiction.

What seems far fetched is coming true. The miracle is happening right here. Science is throwing open new frontiers in genetic engineering to generate electricity with the aid of genetically modified viruses.

Dr. Angela Belcher From MIT

A team of scientists from MIT in the US, led by Professor Angela Belcher has come up with what might seem like a chapter from science fiction. Professor Belcher and team have constructed a lithium-ion battery where genetically engineered viruses create the negatively charged anode and positively charged cathode.The use of harmful chemicals have been completely dispensed with.

In a traditional lithium-ion battery, lithium ions flow between a negatively charged anode, usually graphite, and the positively charged cathode, usually cobalt oxide or lithium iron phosphate. The virus used in the newly-developed battery is totally harmless to human beings according to Dr Belcher.

Flexibility of Virus-Powered Batteries

The newly developed batteries have the same capacity and performance of batteries presently used to power plug-in hybrid cars. The prototype battery is currently the size of a coin capable of about 100 charges but Professor Belcher is sure that she can come up with better batteries with capacity for more charges within a short span of time. She is certain that the technology can be manipulated to create flexible batteries that can take the shape of their container. This is exactly what is needed for small devices like the ubiquitous mobile phone.

Possible End to Battery Disposal Pollution

The research is sure to warm the cockles of the heart of environmentalists worldwide. Right now batteries are big polluters of the environment if they are not properly disposed off after use. This has been a cause of worry worldwide. Professor Belcher’s research brings a new ray of hope to the world.

Some Concerns about Genetically Modified Viruses

Even though the results of the research are remarkable, caution should not be thrown to the winds. Genetically modified viruses can throw up ugly surprises. According to Ken Alibek, former Soviet germ warfare expert and author of Biohazard the inherent dangers of bioengineering are unpredictable. He says vaccines could be rendered ineffectual by the tools of genetic engineering. So before we go in to full commercial production of the genetically engineered materials a reality check of facts has to be done.

It would not be out of context to point out that there is an allegation that the SARS virus is the product of genetic engineering. Genetically modified (GM) viruses possess significant unpredictability and inherent harmful potential hazards with weird characteristics. The defenses of human body may not be able to cope up with the challenges. The risk is there.

Details of research are described in the April 3, 2009 online edition of Science. Lead authors of the research paper are Yun Jung Lee and Hyunjung Yi of MIT.

References

Fabricating Genetically Engineered High-Power Lithium Ion Batteries Using Multiple Virus Genes. Yun Jung Lee, Hyunjung Yi, Woo-Jae Kim, Kisuk Kang, Dong Soo Yun, Michael S. Strano, Gerbrand Ceder, and Angela M. Belcher (2 April 2009) - Science [DOI: 10.1126/science.1171541]

Biohazard, Ken Alibek and Stephen Handalman, Random House (2000), ISBN-9780385334969.

The copyright of the article Scientists Use Virus to Generate Electricity in Scientific Inquiry is owned by Mohan Alembath. Permission to republish Scientists Use Virus to Generate Electricity in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.