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To: aruanan

My first story was like that, but I changed it because I couldn’t make the story work rationally. Specifically I needed a metabolic ‘oxidizer’ to be present along with the food (oil/refined products) not just the ‘food’ supply. In other words, the bacteria needed an abundant source of oxygen or sulfur in order to metabolise the oil(s). I couldn’t create (for my story) (a) a plausible analog of the (anaerobic) lactic acid cycle (what gives you cramps when you are out of shape cardiovascular-wise) so the bacteria COULD derive food energy from oil in the absence of an ‘oxidizer’ or hydrogen acceptor, and (b) couldn’t work out the chemical-bond energy mechanism for a self-sustaining demon bug metabolism.

I wasn’t willing to go forward with “magic happens here” as the mechanism for the bacteria to consume stores of oil. BUT i did work it out where the oil stores could be contaminated with nasty demon bugs and cause problems! Since it didn’t work, really, I wrote the second story. I got a B/A cuz my creative writing teacher thought it was too technical to be entertaining. Tell that to Tom Clancy ;-)


23 posted on 01/07/2011 4:50:45 AM PST by Blueflag (Res ipsa loquitur)
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To: Blueflag
I wasn’t willing to go forward with “magic happens here” as the mechanism for the bacteria to consume stores of oil.

Which is probably why bacteria at depth that feed on hydrocarbons don't have an explosion of growth because their oxygen supplies are so limited in spite of relatively unlimited food supply.
25 posted on 01/07/2011 5:18:48 AM PST by aruanan
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