DNA of Dirt: Solving the antibiotic crisis

Professor Roberto Anitori discusses the MinION with student Georgia Tytler.

Clark uses cutting-edge technology to study genetic makeup of dirt

Professor Roberto Anitori has spent his career studying extremophiles—organisms that live in extreme environments. He’s worked in Antarctica, researched how extreme organisms live and thrive in volcanoes, deep-sea vents and radioactive hot springs. In this edition of Penguin Chats, Anitori talks about a modern hand-held device his students are using to identify the genetic makeup of dirt. The study could lead to the discovery of new antibiotics to help with the alarming global resistance to current antibiotics.

Like what you heard? Read more about Antarctica and extremophiles:

• “Extremophiles: Microbiology and Biotechnology”
• 2011 National Science Foundation’s Antarctic Service medal recipient
• Antarctica Expedition 2010: Exploring the Rock Bottom of the Food Chain in McMurdo’s Extreme Environments
• United States Antarctic Program

The opinions and ideas expressed by individuals in these podcasts do not necessarily reflect the positions or policies or Clark College Foundation or Clark College.