Raul Cano (scientist)

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Raul Cano is a microbiologist and medical mycologist, Professor Emeritus at the biology department at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California. [1] His claim to fame is having revived microorganisms from amber alongside entomologist George Poinar Jr. Initially, a company was founded to promote medical uses of the microorganisms, which proved unsuccessful.

In 2008, he co-founded Fossil Fuels Brewing Company. Cano claims that their beer is brewed with "ancient yeast" that he extracted from amber and revived after 25 million to 45 million years. The process used to extract the yeast is similar to the process described in the book Jurassic Park that was used to retrieve dinosaur blood from mosquitos trapped in amber. [2] The beer has received mixed reviews, with critics noting that it has a unique taste. [3]

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References

  1. "Raul J. Cano, Ph.D." web.calpoly.edu.
  2. Biba, Erin (July 20, 2009). "Amber Ale: Brewing Beer From 45-Million-Year-Old Yeast" via www.wired.com.
  3. Oppenheim, Gabe, The Beer That Takes You Back ... Millions of Years, Washington Post, September 1, 2008