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.
