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Newly Risen from Yeast: THC

nytimes.com

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Re: Newly Risen from Yeast: THC

#41

Post by aaron695 »

joesmo wrote: post #2

I don't see how this is superior to having the plant itself create THC which is much simpler and cheaper. Other than being a cool trick, how is this going to change the world, as the article claims? It really doesn't specify how the THC produced from yeast is any better or different than that produced from the plant. Can yeast production be scaled up in ways that plat production can't? Or is it just that it might be…

I assume - Easier to secure crops. Easier and more accurate to grow, less pesticides etc.

I'd imagine in a prison it'd be very valuable.

Great for home growers as well, I'd image easier and more accurate THC delivery.

Re: Newly Risen from Yeast: THC

#42

Post by warmwaffles »

mey wrote: post #4
joesmo wrote: post #2

I don't see how this is superior to having the plant itself create THC which is much simpler and cheaper. Other than being a cool trick, how is this going to change the world, as the article claims? It really doesn't specify how the THC produced from yeast is any better or different than that produced from the plant. Can yeast production be scaled up in ways that plat production can't? Or is it just that it might be…

If you have the opportunity, go tour an Anheuser-Busch production facility. They are the perfect demonstration of operating on a massive scale with yeast, what ever you feel about their end product. Will this change the world? No. Will is make it possible to drastically reduce the cost of producing these compounds on an industrial scale? With what's described in the article? No, because it still requires specially pr…

They will learn from these experiments and if possible be able to create other compounds. I don't think the market for THC compounds is large enough to justify a massive yeast production, but if they were able to produce more than just THC with the yeast alone, it may be worth it.

Re: Newly Risen from Yeast: THC

#43

Post by dnautics »

peter303 wrote: post #21

I wonder what the purification efficiency is. For example they've been working on GMO-octane from green algae for a couple of decades. But refining its low concentrations is still uncompetitive with petroleum.

also consider that that octane is actually not the octane that you put into your car gas tank, ita's actually closer to a diesel. (linear alkanes vs. branched alkanes)

Re: Newly Risen from Yeast: THC

#44

Post by sciguy77 »

i000 wrote: post #38
unavoidable wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sorry, but I'm going to be "that guy", because someone is inevitably going to say "you can't patent that!", and there is generally a lot of misinformation about patents on HN. That particular document is a published patent application, and not a granted patent. You can tell on Google Patents in the field on the right that says: "Publication type: Application". Moreover, using USPTO Pair[0], you can check the status o…

Thanks. Considering it was more of a prank from the beginning I am not surprised to see it abandoned ;)

How do you mean? Patents are generally reasonably expensive to pursue in time and money. I'm curious to hear more about the prank aspect of this patent application if you care to share.

Re: Newly Risen from Yeast: THC

#45

Post by gregpilling »

unavoidable wrote: post #35
i000 wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They can't do it;), my friend (Anson Parker) owns a patent: http://www.google.com/patents/US20090042974 "It is the ambition and intention of authors that tactical usage of this broad-sweeping technique may rapidly and at low cost satisfy a global demand in what may be termed a “grass-roots” bio-engineering project worthy of the 3rd Millennium; bringing to fruition micro-mass-productivity. " And he still makes the new…

Sorry, but I'm going to be "that guy", because someone is inevitably going to say "you can't patent that!", and there is generally a lot of misinformation about patents on HN. That particular document is a published patent application, and not a granted patent. You can tell on Google Patents in the field on the right that says: "Publication type: Application". Moreover, using USPTO Pair[0], you can check the status o…

If it has been abandoned, doesn't that mean that anybody can now use this idea? It is part of public domain knowledge now?

Re: Newly Risen from Yeast: THC

#46

Post by [deleted] »

tdaltonc wrote: post #30
peter303 wrote: post #21

I wonder what the purification efficiency is. For example they've been working on GMO-octane from green algae for a couple of decades. But refining its low concentrations is still uncompetitive with petroleum.

A mol of THC is worth a lot more than a mol of octane.

[deleted]

Re: Newly Risen from Yeast: THC

#47

Post by Kalium »

warmwaffles wrote: post #42
mey wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you have the opportunity, go tour an Anheuser-Busch production facility. They are the perfect demonstration of operating on a massive scale with yeast, what ever you feel about their end product. Will this change the world? No. Will is make it possible to drastically reduce the cost of producing these compounds on an industrial scale? With what's described in the article? No, because it still requires specially pr…

They will learn from these experiments and if possible be able to create other compounds. I don't think the market for THC compounds is large enough to justify a massive yeast production, but if they were able to produce more than just THC with the yeast alone, it may be worth it.

Microbial chemical factories. Now there's a hell of a pharmaceutical future. Combine with GMOs and CRISPR-CAS9...

Holy crap.

Re: Newly Risen from Yeast: THC

#48

Post by bduerst »

peter303 wrote: post #21

I wonder what the purification efficiency is. For example they've been working on GMO-octane from green algae for a couple of decades. But refining its low concentrations is still uncompetitive with petroleum.

THC extraction is not unlike caffeine extraction, which is pretty easy with liquefied CO2. You could even do pharmacy-grade column extracts if you wanted to make it extra pure.

Re: Newly Risen from Yeast: THC

#49

Post by Sanddancer »

joshribakoff wrote: post #10

> European regulators, he said, are eager for a way to create a steady supply of THC and other cannabinoids without actually cultivating marijuana. “They are in fear that these plants will be grown and will support some illegal farming,” So the regulators are eager to flood the market with GMO THC, so they can stop people from growing their own organic THC? Sounds like they just want to commercialize & control it.

Yes, the regulators want to. The people actually doing the research want to be able to focus on the components that are in marijuana, because some of the chemicals that are produced in small quantities seem to have substantial effects in certain conditions. A simpler organism, like yeast, means they can minimize the variables, and provide better research and better quality.

Re: Newly Risen from Yeast: THC

#50

Post by Sanddancer »

joesmo wrote: post #2

I don't see how this is superior to having the plant itself create THC which is much simpler and cheaper. Other than being a cool trick, how is this going to change the world, as the article claims? It really doesn't specify how the THC produced from yeast is any better or different than that produced from the plant. Can yeast production be scaled up in ways that plat production can't? Or is it just that it might be…

It's about more than just THC. It's also about cannabidiol, cannabidivarin, tetrahydrocannabivarin and other substances that are also produced and much lower quantities. THC seems more like the proof of concept, with the lesser-known drugs being where this will really shine.
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