Re: fossil microbes make beer

[Tompaleo@aol.com]

I saw the reports on TV last night and rread two articles in the papers
today. Both basically state the same thing in that the Cal-Poly people were
able to reactivate a bacteria spore extracted from the gut of a ~30 Ma
stingerless bee that was encased in amber. It went on to say that the
bacteria were already producing an "antibiotic" now being studied for its
medical possibilities. The actual article went to press today in the journal
Science also according to the reports. So I guess we wont get the real story
for another week. Damn! I new I should have renewed my subscription '-)

                                    Regards,
                                    Thomas R. Lipka
                                    Paleontological/Geological Studies