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Written by Annika Linnet
Normally when people hear the word “genetics”, they think of gene therapy or oncology. Genetic engineering is usually associated with the medical field but has several uses. A growing prospect in genetics is its use in agriculture and microbiology. GMOs, or genetically modified organisms, are a great example of genetic engineering in agriculture. Often misperceived as toxic, GMOs are actually just fruit and vegetable seeds that are slightly altered to thrive in different environments, creating more food for more people. One concern when it comes to GMOs is the risk that comes with monocultures, or crops with limited genetic diversity that can eventually become more susceptible to extinction and cause habitat loss. While concerns such as these and the use of pesticides are not uncommon in the United States, it is important to understand the real definition of a GMO, and how useful that technology truly is.
However, gene editing is not limited to fruits and vegetation. Genetic engineering in microbiology has created many new forms of bioremediation. Bacteria DNA is circular and can easily be altered with plasmid uptake, and other techniques, to intentionally cause a whole cascade of change in an ecosystem. There are several microorganisms (bacteria and worms) that can use complicated wastes and plastics as fuel naturally, as well as after genetic modifications are made to alter their metabolic pathways. An example of a naturally occurring plastic-eating microbe is Comamonas testosteroni, which is found almost everywhere from soil to sewage sludge. Because of genetic limitations, C.testosteroni cannot metabolize sugar and instead looks for carbon atoms contained in plastic and lignin compounds. This, in comparison to sugar-loving E.coli, makes it a great platform for uncovering the secret to plastic metabolization; combining microbiology, genetics, and environmental science. Combining science and technology in this way is important because understanding C.testosteroni’s plastic-eating abilities, as well as how it interacts in communities, can create several opportunities for bioremediation and reduction of plastic pollution.
While gene editing in microorganisms has a huge potential to act as a solution to plastic and oil pollution, wastewater treatment, and overall reducing impacts of climate change, there are quite a few obstacles within the growing industry of biotechnology. A big challenge in implementing these types of bioremediations is public perception and understanding of it. While some governments support that a significant number of these technologies pose no risk, public opinions and votes not only affect official decisions but also hand out consumer backlash to the companies that develop solutions. Widespread feelings of dread and viewing this technology as unnatural or toxic may delay the development needed to implement microbial engineering on a broad enough scale to be able to resolve environmental issues. Overall, proactivity from the scientific community is more than needed to sway public acceptance in time.
Works Cited:
Bioengineering microbial communities: Their potential to help, hinder, and disgust. (2016, May 26). National Library of Medicine. Retrieved May 26, 2016, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4927200/#cit0002
Morris, A. (2023, February 6). How waste-eating bacteria digest complex carbons. Northwestern Now. Retrieved February 6, 2023, from https://news.northwestern.edu/stories/2023/02/new-external-story/
Sayler, G. S., & Ripp, S. (2000, June 1). Field applications of genetically engineered microorganisms for bioremediation processes. ScienceDirect.com. Retrieved August 23, 2023, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0958166900000975
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