Microbial Production of Biopolymers and Polymer Precursors: Applications and Perspectives : Caister Academic : 9781904455363 : 1904455360 : 01 Jan 2009 : A huge variety of biopolymers - such as polysaccharides, polyesters, and polyamides - are naturally produced by microorganisms. These range from viscous solutions to plastics. Their physical properties are dependent on the composition and molecular weight of the polymer. The genetic manipulation of microorganisms opens up an enormous potential for the biotechnological production of biopolymers with tailored properties suitable for high-value medical application such as tissue engineering and drug delivery. Written by expert, internationally renowned scientists, this comprehensive volume describes in detail the use of microorganisms for the production of the most important biopolymers and polymer precursors. The contributors describe in depth the biosynthetic pathways, physical properties, and industrial production processes; and they