> It is possible to genetically engineer Streptococcus mutans, the dominant human mouth bacteria, to produce ethanol instead of cavity-causing lactic acid
I hope it's in such small quantities that it wouldn't cause any alcoholic effects?
Nonetheless, such a simple website with short and concise copy. Wasn't expecting that for a biotech startup. Hope it works, cavities suck!
Better question: do any increased risks from this outweigh the risks incurred from poorer dental health and procedures to address these? (particularly at high age)?
It's pretty unlikely to cause an intoxicating effect: it's surrounded by the mouth, so it'll be taken up almost instantly. It never gets to accumulate, so I'd expect the impact is far less than even something like kombucha.
I wonder what the religious implications might be.
