produced by Aileen Llewellyn; contributors Barry Paine, Chris McKay, Nick Russell, David Archer and Imre Friedmann.
Superbugs
In this programme we look at some of the special qualities bacteria and fungi possess. For instance, some survive in cold Antarctic deserts by changing their growth pattern to penetrate the more favourable microclimate inside the rocks. Another group of bacteria have recently been discovered growing in a wide range of extreme habitats. These Archaebacteria have fetaures that distinguish them not only from plant and animal cells but also from other bacyeria. They have unique enzymes and nucleic acids that underlie novel biochemistry. As one example, we look at how these bacteria are already being used to biologically treat liquid waste left over from food processing.
Superbugs