TAU researchers develop a computer algorithm that identifies
genes whose activation is lethal to bacteria
Like little factories, cells metabolize raw materials and
convert them into chemical compounds. Biotechnologists take advantage of this
ability, using microorganisms to produce pharmaceuticals and biofuels. To boost
output to an industrial scale and create new types of chemicals,
biotechnologists manipulate the microorganisms' natural metabolism, often by
"overexpressing" certain genes in the cell. But such metabolic
engineering is hampered by the fact that many genes become toxic to the cell
when overexpressed.