American researchers are very close to create genetically engineered microbes. It will produce a less expensive version of the life-saving anti-malarial drug ‘artemisinin’.
University of California team led by Jay D. Keasling achieved the goal by engineering the production of artemisinic acid. It is just one chemical alteration away from artemisinin.
The team identified the enzyme in wormwood plant last July. It changes amorphadiene into artemisinic.
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