> ==========
> bionet/microbiology #2297, from R.Scopes at latrobe.edu.au, 782 chars, 13
Mar 1996 07:34:44
> ----------
> Article: 3246 of bionet.microbiology
> Path:
cix.compulink.co.uk!news.compulink.co.uk!btnet!tank.news.pipex.net!pipex
!weld.news.pipex.net!pipex!plug.news.pipex.net!pipex!tube.news.pipex.net
!pipex!lade.news.pipex.net!pipex!news00.sunet.se!su
> nic!nntp.coast.net!harbinger.cc.monash.edu.au!lugb.
> latrobe.edu.au!newsmgr
> From: "R.K. Scopes" <R.Scopes at latrobe.edu.au>
> Newsgroups: bionet.microbiology
> Subject: carbonivores
> Date: 13 Mar 1996 07:34:44 GMT
> Organization: La Trobe University
> Lines: 3
> Message-ID: <4i5tqk$nrv at lugb.latrobe.edu.au>
> NNTP-Posting-Host: bcrs1.biochem.latrobe.edu.au
>> A lot of biomass carbon ends up as just that--carbon, after fires,
etc.
> Has anyone ever come across a microorganism that can use plain carbon
> as a carbon source ?! (watch out for your diamonds, girls)
Hi,
I am only guessing but from the amount of carbon/charcoal that can be
found in most soil samples (sieving and decanting for mycorrhizal spores
turns up quite a lot) it is pretty resistant. One approach might be to
isolate some carbon/charcoal by dissolving/hydrolysing everthing else
and the try a carbon dating on the carbon remains, I would lay
reasonable odds that it is so old as to suggest extreme stability.
Peter Harris,
Reading Univ. UK.
