Emory Chemists Develop Bacteria That May Help Decaffeinate Coffee

Emory University chemists have suceeded in harnessing the ability of bacteria to make new molecules, which could eventually lead to the creation of naturally decaffeinated coffee plants and produe theophylline , a producte used in treating asthma. Emory chemist Justin Gallivan and graduate student Shawn Desai, studied coupled the life of a bacterium to the presence of theophylline, a compound that is used to treat asthma, and is produced by the breakdown of caffeine in both coffee and tea plants.

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