Quantcast
ZME Science
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    Menu
    Natural Sciences
    Health
    History & Humanities
    Space & Astronomy
    Technology
    Culture
    Resources
    Natural Sciences

    Physics

    • Matter and Energy
    • Quantum Mechanics
    • Thermodynamics

    Chemistry

    • Periodic Table
    • Applied Chemistry
    • Materials
    • Physical Chemistry

    Biology

    • Anatomy
    • Biochemistry
    • Ecology
    • Genetics
    • Microbiology
    • Plants and Fungi

    Geology and Paleontology

    • Planet Earth
    • Earth Dynamics
    • Rocks and Minerals
    • Volcanoes
    • Dinosaurs
    • Fossils

    Animals

    • Mammals
    • Birds
    • Fish
    • Reptiles
    • Amphibians
    • Invertebrates
    • Pets
    • Conservation
    • Animals Facts

    Climate and Weather

    • Climate Change
    • Weather and Atmosphere

    Geography

    Mathematics

    Health
    • Drugs
    • Diseases and Conditions
    • Human Body
    • Mind and Brain
    • Food and Nutrition
    • Wellness
    History & Humanities
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Economics
    • History
    • People
    • Sociology
    Space & Astronomy
    • The Solar System
    • The Sun
    • The Moon
    • Planets
    • Asteroids, Meteors and Comets
    • Astronomy
    • Astrophysics
    • Cosmology
    • Exoplanets and Alien Life
    • Spaceflight and Exploration
    Technology
    • Computer Science & IT
    • Engineering
    • Inventions
    • Sustainability
    • Renewable Energy
    • Green Living
    Culture
    • Culture and Society
    • Bizarre Stories
    • Lifestyle
    • Art and Music
    • Gaming
    • Books
    • Movies and Shows
    Resources
    • How To
    • Science Careers
    • Metascience
    • Fringe Science
    • Science Experiments
    • School and Study
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science → Biology

Engineering microorganisms for future generations

Engineering microorganisms may be the key to solving major environmental problems, particularly the accumulation of greenhouse gases and fossil fuel overconsumption.

Anna Hargrave by Anna Hargrave
June 9, 2015
in Biology, Science

Engineering microorganisms may be the key to solving major environmental problems, particularly the accumulation of greenhouse gases and fossil fuel overconsumption.

bacteria stock photo
Image: Yale News

One type of microorganism that is particularly interesting is autotrophs because of their ability to “fix” carbon. This means that there is a chemical reaction converting carbon dioxide into an organic compound. To take advantage of the autotroph’s natural ability, two different approaches must be considered. One approach is enhancing the efficiency of the metabolic pathway inside the autotroph. This means that conditions, like pH, media, and temperature, are optimized so it becomes the most effective process as possible. The second approach is to isolate the genes that allow it to fix the carbon and transplant the genes into a new organism. This approach is more challenging, because both organisms and their parts must be studied in depth.

Researchers at Pennsylvania State University chose to use the second approach and engineered an organism that can convert carbon dioxide and simultaneously produce hydrocarbons to be processed into gasoline. This concept is very lucrative and eco-friendly if it could be applied on a large scale, because it would reduce the amount of carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas, and decrease our dependence on fossil fuels.

Their project isolated the gene known to produce hydrocarbons from Botryococcus braunii algae and inserted this gene into bacteria that has an autotrophic mode. Two types of bacteria, Rhodobacter capsulatus and Ralstonia eutrophia, were used in this project, and these specific species were chosen, because both have multiple metabolic pathways but different from each other physiologically and metabolically. The inserted algaeic gene ultimately generates long chains of carbons, and this is the starting material to make gasoline, kerosene, or diesel.

Botryococcus braunii. Image: Wikimedia Commons
Botryococcus braunii. Image: Wikimedia Commons

Currently, this project cannot be applied on a larger scale, because the energy, time, and money put into the project was greater than the value of the product yield. Further research must be conducted to optimize the microorganisms and their conditions. Overall, applying bioengineering to improve our environment is fascinating premise and shows a lot of potential for future generations.

Sources:

Khan, Nymul E., John A. Myers, Amalie L. Tuerk, and Wayne R. Curtis. “A Process Economic Assessment of Hydrocarbon Biofuels Production Using Chemoautotrophic Organisms.” Bioresource Technology: 201-11. Web. 3 June 2015.

Nybo, S. Eric, Nymul Khan, Benjamin M. Woolston, and Wayne R. Curtis. “Metabolic Engineering in Chemolithoautotrophic Hosts for the Production of Fuels and Chemicals.” Metabolic Engineering. Web. 3 June 2015.

 

Was this helpful?


Thanks for your feedback!

Related posts:
  1. Smoking may cause ADHD in future generations
  2. Microorganisms can survive in space and on other planets, safe behind dried-up biofilms
  3. Wild microorganisms are evolving to eat plastic pollution
  4. Future generations will experience more from extreme weather events
  5. Ocean microorganisms can ‘seed’ clouds, research finds
Tags: bacteria

ADVERTISEMENT
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • Reviews
  • More
  • About Us

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t you want to get smarter every day?

YES, sign me up!

Over 35,000 subscribers can’t be wrong. Don’t worry, we never spam. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy.

✕
ZME Science News

FREE
VIEW