| Genetically Engineered Microorganisms: Can the Smallest Creatures Solve Our Biggest Problems? |
| Thursday, 14 July 2011 | Aaron Lada, Ph.D. | Article |
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Cleaning the Environment Bioremediation—the process of using microbes to clean up pollution—was demonstrated on a test beach following the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989. Certain strains of bacteria can naturally break down petroleum, and by optimizing conditions to keep these bacteria growing, spilled petroleum can be converted into a non-toxic product. Additional strains of bacteria can render harmless other toxins, including heavy metals such as mercury. Bacteria remove contaminants at the molecular level from soil, water and sand by converting them into a benign or sometimes beneficial byproduct. This is an improvement on traditional methods that involve filtering, washing or collecting toxins and then disposing of them elsewhere. Genetic engineering and other modifications are being made to bacteria to help them become more efficient cleaners. Usually these modifications add or increase the enzymes needed to break down toxins, or provide them with a more efficient means of gaining nutrition while on the cleanup job. Finally, with genetic modification, bacteria can also be used as sensors of pollutants, usually by changing color or even glowing in the dark when a particular toxin is present. Generating Energy Ethanol has also been looked to as an alternative to fossil fuels. The most direct way to produce ethanol from plants is to use the starch-containing components such as grains of corn, wheat or rice. However, there are disadvantages to using food-source plant material to produce energy, most notably an inevitable increase in the price of food and animal feed. There is also potential in the structural parts of the plants composed of cellulose, yet most fermenting processes cannot break down cellulose into a fermentable product. Bacteria, though, can be engineered to do so, converting it into simple sugars that can then be fermented. Thus, bacteria could enable the use of biomass such as switchgrass and other sustainable plant products to produce ethanol without impacting the food supply. Algae are single cellular-plant-like organisms that use the sun’s energy to make their nutrients. Like plants, they use carbon dioxide and produce oxygen as a waste product. Work is being done to grow algae in certain conditions to force them to produce hydrogen gas as a waste product instead of oxygen. Using algae would counteract many of the disadvantages of the current methods of hydrogen production, such as requiring either the combustion of fossil fuels or the high cost of using electricity provided by wind or solar energy. Algae are also being used to produce a petroleum product than can be used directly as a biofuel. Genetic alterations can be done to enhance these natural abilities, making them more efficient and increasing the yield. Advances in genetic-engineering techniques have allowed researchers to manipulate the makeup of microorganisms to either impart new abilities or enhance those already present. Their rapid growth provides a continuous, renewable source of energy, as well as an efficient way to clean up pollutants. For some, the term “genetically modified microorganisms” may conjure up negative images of potentially dangerous agents, but through continued research with a strong safety component, they could become an important tool to address pressing environmental concerns. Help the Earth, Spread the Word: Share this article with family and friends by clicking on the "Email This" or "Share This" links below right. Then see TODAY'S TOP STORIES. Additional resources
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Written by JaneyD , June 22, 2009
The risks are too high and the outcome too unpredictable for human to create and release into the world new organisms--even after extensive research "with a strong safety component."
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Written by mp , June 22, 2009
According to Ronnie Cummins of Organic Consumers Association, "Dr. Michael Antoniou, a British molecular scientist points out, gene-splicing has already resulted in the 'unexpected production of toxic substances... in genetically engineered bacteria, yeast, plants, and animals with the problem remaining undetected until a major health hazard has arisen.'"
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With the risk of unintended consequences so high, it seems researchers would do better to look for bioremedial solutions that already exist in nature (like oyster mushrooms for diesel oil spills--see http://www.ecohearth.com/eco-z...rview.html). 3.8 billion years of evolution sans gene-splicing has accounted for unintended consequences. But of course, it's difficult to get funding for research on solutions that are already present in nature... |
Solutions to the global problems of finding new renewable energy sources and cleaning up pollution may be found by looking to microorganisms. Bacteria, algae and other such minute creatures form the base of the food chain in most ecosystems, decompose material that returns valuable nutrients to the environment and are capable of producing ethanol, methane gas and other bio fuels. Utilizing their natural abilities to clean up after other organisms and to produce energy from a variety of sources are certainly promising. 
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