High-octane bacteria could ease pain at the pump: Engineered E. coli mass-produce key precursor to potent biofuel

Potent gasoline-like biofuels are needed to fuel millions of cars with internal combustion engines, and current biofuels don’t pack the necessary power. Now scientists have programmed bacteria to tailor-make key precursors of high-octane biofuels that could one day replace gasoline.