Could GM Bacteria Produce Nicotine?

[aeternusjunk]

There are better places for this thread but I'm still under 5 posts.

I realize people freak out about GMOs, and the debate is still heated. But...

How hard would it be to isolate the gene in tobacco that produces nicotine and introduce it to bacteria? This has been done for pharmaceuticals in the past, why not nicotine? Synthetic nicotine made in a lab is cost prohibitive and requires nasty chemicals to make it, resulting in impurities. But GM bacteria could basically eat sugar and spit out pure nicotine. The problem with e-cigs (even though I love the things) is that they still use nicotine derived from tobacco. This results in very low levels of several carcinogens. These are measured in parts per billion, but the stuff is still there. Compared to analogs, I equate it to jumping off a cliff into a swimming pool rather than a glass of water. Nicotine is a poison (like caffeine), but doesn't cause cancer. Pure nicotine, no cancer.

Call me crazy, but I bet the political climate and 'common' knowledge of GMOs, smoking, cancer, and nicotine prohibits this breakthrough. I'm no expert on GM, but if they can make anti-freezing tomatoes and oranges, biodiesel producing bacteria and glow in the dark fish, I think they could manage nicotine. If some big pharmaceutical took this on, I bet they'd make way more back on returns. With e-cigs and safe(r) nicotine, I bet a lot more people would flock to vaping. Even non-smokers.

A vaccine is currently in the works to block receptors in the brain that cause the release of dopamine when nicotine attaches to them. So tell me, would you rather have them spending money on research for a mind altering injection or a safe alternative to tobacco?

 

[CaptJay]

Safe alternative thanks lol
Mind altering genetic mutations are a rocky road - I mean do people never read sciecne fiction?
I realise everything comes down to chemistry but we honestly dont know enough about the interractions of certain FOODS in every person on earth (why is susan allergic to beans but paul isn't? and they are related) never mind messing with genes.

 

[satoshi]

Probably expensive to develop that if it's possible

 

[jeanblackwood]

Everyone keeps talking about nicotine like the FDA its a poison its a powerful drug . Did you know there is nicotine in some of our foods like eggplant potatoes...ect. Potato chips you can't eat just one right . Nicotine is used to treat Crones disease , but all of a sudden its a dangerous drug being compared to heroine . I am more inclined to believe that nicotine is no more dangerous than caffeine which is also addictive . It is in our food alredy put there by nature not man . Look it up

 

[Twistie]

Why not.

They could put the bacteria in a probiotic drink and any number of things could be attained. The bacteria could metabolise sugar and convert to nicotine for those with diabetes or another variation - if you're obese it could convert fat to nicotine. Possibilities are endless

Instead of Yakult we now have Nikult - probiotic with a kick.

 

[topaz_stone71]

Vaccinations that mess with neurotransmitters scare the crud out of me. As a psychiatric professional, I am all too aware of the effects that abnormal levels of neurotransmitters have on a person: hallucinations, delusional thoughts, paranoia, depression, mania, and movement disorders like Parkinson's to name a few. Why would I ever allow someone to inject me with a substance that will alter my body's regulation of neurotransmitters? 8-o

 

[aeternusjunk]

Vaccinations that mess with neurotransmitters scare the crud out of me. As a psychiatric professional, I am all too aware of the effects that abnormal levels of neurotransmitters have on a person: hallucinations, delusional thoughts, paranoia, depression, mania, and movement disorders like Parkinson's to name a few. Why would I ever allow someone to inject me with a substance that will alter my body's regulation of neurotransmitters? 8-o

I absolutely agree. I think there is a huge problem with over-medication in terms of anti-depressants and other SSRI-like drugs. Some people do need them, but I think its mainly a magic pill type scenario for many users. Of course, we put things in our brain that mess with our neurotransmitters all the time, nicotine and caffeine to name a few. But our bodies are designed to deal with these naturally occurring low level poisons. As noted, most of the 'bad' things that people 'abuse' are in food, or already in us. I'm all for research into what we can do to our brains, haha, but this vaccine seems excessive. What I'm saying is why spend the money on a vaccine that appeases uneducated anti-smoking zealots when it would fix the cancer problem and make smokers happy to synthesize pure nicotine? They could even fund it under Obamacare! It would be healthy(er)! lol

 

[quakereject]

Everyone keeps talking about nicotine like the FDA its a poison its a powerful drug . Did you know there is nicotine in some of our foods like eggplant potatoes...ect. Potato chips you can't eat just one right . Nicotine is used to treat Crones disease , but all of a sudden its a dangerous drug being compared to heroine . I am more inclined to believe that nicotine is no more dangerous than caffeine which is also addictive . It is in our food alredy put there by nature not man . Look it up

Well it is a powerful drug.

Why do you think so many people rely on it? I wouldn't compare it to ......, but caffeine is a comparable summary as far as dangers. As far as addictive properties, well.. we all know how easy we got hooked on it.. then suddenly couldn't stop easily when we decided the need to smoke was not attractive.

Anything that makes your heart beat faster or cause your blood pressure to rise is dangerous, even moreso in heavy doses. It just flat out depends on your personal statistics inside your body, your diet, habits, exercise, even genes contribute.