The production of high current densities by microorganisms in a MFC is highly artificial with no natural equivalent in the environment. Attempts to improve current production through genetic engineering have met with little success . Over production of cytochromes or the microbial nanowires did not lead to an increase in power production, likewise the creation of an ATP drain, predictive by the metabolic model to increase in metabolism , did not increase current production. This observation highlights that current production by bacteria in a MFC is a complex process that is
highly regulated and requires more then changes in a few genes or changes in bacterial respiration rates to increase current production.