article_snippet: Dr James Byrne, who led the work at the University of Tübingen, said bacteria could be genetically engineered to increase this activity. '
article_snippet: The research team then varied the light levels to simulate the effect of night and day.
article_snippet: Dr Byrne said: 'The geochemistry is interesting in The geochemistry, but there are also potentially useful implications which may derive form this work. '
article_snippet: Professor Andreas Kappler, another of the authors of the study and secretary of the European Association of Geochemistry, said: 'This may have some interesting geochemical applications. '
article_snippet: But we are still at an early stage of understanding the bioengineering implications of this discovery.'