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ephalopods like octopuses, squid, and cuttlefish have the mesmerizing ability to change the color of their skin to camouflage into the surrounding environment. Multiple biological processes involving a natural pigment called xanthommatin drives this unique ability. As such, various industries are interested in using xanthommatin in products such as paint and natural sunscreen, but the pigment has been hard to research. Harvesting xanthommatin from animals isn’t very efficient, and traditional lab methods are laborious and low-yielding.
Now, a team of researchers has found a way to produce up to 1,000 times more xanthommatin than previous approaches—by making a single bacterium do it. While that might sound like overkill, the achievement has significant implications for a broad range of areas, from animal biology and chemistry to cosmetics and the military.
