The use of genetic engineered organisms for pollution

abatement

Done by: Benjamin Wee

Ashraff

Joey

o Introduction

o The use of genetically modified

organisms to reduce :

• Air pollution

• Water pollution

• Soil pollution

o Conclusion

o Credits

o An organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. o Techniques Recombinant DNA technology : use DNA molecules from different sources, which combines into one molecule to create a new set of geneso The DNA is then transferred into an organism, giving it the modified genes

What is genetically

engineered organism?

MICROBES AS POLLUTION CLEANERS

Microbes in the environment can be harnessed via genetic engineering to combat pollution, helping to preserve the environment

In regards to using microbes as a air pollution control, they are almost never released directly to an polluted environment.

Instead, they can be applied to systems engineered to combatair pollution.

AIR POLLUTIONIntroduction of chemicals, particulate matter or biological materials that cause harm/discomfort to living organisms .

Also causes damage to natural and man-made environments and also to the atmosphere itself.

Case Study: Genetically engineered microbes in bio-filtersE, coli, a bacterium that causes food poisoning.

With Genetic Engineering, a strain of E.Coli BL21 can be implemented in bio-filters to extract toxic pesticides, parathion and methyl parathion from air.

BUT HOW?

Genes of to create fusion protein of enhanced green fluorescent protein(EGFP) and carboxylesterase B1 (CarE B1),

Cloned into Pet-28b vector , induced in E.Coli BL21, with ability to degrade environmental pesticides and easily detected via fluorescence spectrophotmetry, or ever by naked eye in daylight

Pesticides in Air past through bio-filter with G.E E.Coli strain

Pesticides, including Parathion and M.Parathion broken down to p-

nitrophenol as well as NO3 and SO2-4 by-products.

NO3 and SO2-4 by-products further broken down by other naturally occurring microbes present in

Biofilters.

Average removal efficiency of 95.2% and 98.6% removal for parathion and M.Parathion UNOPTIMIZEDOptimized system= 100% predicted removal rate

Combating Air Pollution: Source Reduction

• If goal is to reduce air pollutants before emission to the atmosphere, waste gas purification system which utilize engineered microbes can be used.

• Prime examples of such systems are Bioscrubbers, Biofilters and Bio-trickling Filters.

A more natural means..?

• However, if these systems are not appropriate to use in certain environments,

Rural Areas E.G Farms

Congested City Areas

Able to turn to less conventional methods, like using engineered plants and even animals!

Less Flatulent CowsCows produce eye-brow raising amounts of methane – a result of their digestion process, all produced by a bacterium strain . Scientists have altered this strain to be more eco-friendly, allowing for a more less flatulent breed of cows!

Methane Reduction: 25% per cow! Goes to

about ½ million cars being taken out with 12%

reduction per farmer Bob!

Carbon Reducing Plantso Humans add about 9 gigatons of

CO2 to atmosphere.

o Usage of Genetic Engineered on plants & trees that already have innate carbon-reducing qualities, amplifying their carbon reducing abilities.

o Able to transfer and store large amounts of carbon into underground root systems!

• Can be done via

introducing mutated

RuBisCo enzymes that

have increased CO2

conversion ability into

plant parts.

• Up to 5-fold

improvement!

Modified poplar plants break down trichloroethylene 100

times faster than unmodified poplar plants.

o Absorb groundwater pollutants through their rootso Break down pollutants into harmless byproductsthat are incorporated into their roots, stems and leaves or released into the air.

o Remove as much as 91 percent of trichloroethyleneo Remove chloroform, carbon tetrachloride and vinyl chlorideo Remove airborne pollutants(trichloroethylene and benzene)

stick rabbit gene into poplar trees rabbit gene also produced cytochrome P450 but at a faster rate Allows the poplars to break down the contaminants faster

o Gene might escape and incorporate into natural tree populations

Do you know that pigs can

also contribute to

Eutrophication?• Phytate phosphorous in cereal grain is excreted out in the pigs’ manure as the pigs cannot digest it• Manure used as fertilisers• Phosporus is the limiting nutrient of algal growth • Uncontrolled growth of algal will cause Eutrophication

How are they different from other pigs? have a gene that allows them to make phytase in the salivary gland and secrete it into its saliva Phytase breaks down phytatephosphorus in the eaten food Release of phosphate pig’s stomach bloodstream nutrients.Manure contains 30 to 60% less phosphorous

How are they created? Enviropigs(transgenic)= pig genes + E. coli genes + mouse DNA• Developed by introducing a transgene construct composing of promoter segment of the mouse parotid secretory protein gene and the E. coli phytase gene.•Construct introduced into a fertilized embryo by pronuclear microinjection • The embryo along with other embryos was surgically implanted into reproductive tract of a sow.• After a 114 day gestation period, piglets were born & checked for the presence of the transgene and for phytase enzyme activity in the saliva.

reduce soil phosphorus (Reduce Eutrophication happening) Save farmers’ money $$

Health risks Enviropig Placed in Animal FeedRegulation of Enviropig

Soil Pollution“Soil contamination or soil pollution is caused

by the presence of xenobiotic (human-made) chemicals or other alteration in the natural soil environment.” – Wikipedia

Hydrocarbons, Heavy Metal, Organotoxins.

Contamination will or cause harm all within a biota

The remedy• Biotechnology alongside Genetic

Engineering is the sustainable solution

• GMOs are a sustainable solution thru bioremediation of soil

• Organisms include

–Transgenic Plants (phytoremediation)

–Transgenic Micro-organism

Phytoremediation

Phytoremediation

Phytoextraction

Phytodegredation Phytovolatilisation

Phytostabilisation

Phytoremediation• Phytoextraction > removal of

contaminants thru accumulation and storage in plants.

• Phytodegradation > absorption and breaking down of organic compounds by plant

• Phytostabilisation > stabilization or reduction of toxic molecules to less toxic substances

• Phytovolatilization > where plant dissipate pollutants into the atmosphere

• No natural plant can degrade and accumulate without dying

• Genetically modified Mouse-ear cress flower (arabidopsis thaliana) & Yellow poplar plant

• The genes producing enzymes Mer A & Mer B were introduced

• Mer A mechanism : reduces organic Hg to ionic Hg

• Mer B mechanism : Volatilise elemental Hg

• MerA producing gene implemented to yellow poplar

• More effective than the natural hyper accumulator, Tabacco (as the control)

Yellow Poplar (Liriododendron tulipfera)

• Utilizes both MerA & MerB

• Gives this plant more tolerances compared to another plant with only one (either MerA or B)

• Detoxifying mechanism : Extracted >> Stabilised >> Volitilised

• 40X more tolerance than Wild Variant

• 10X more effective than MerBproducing plantsArabidopsis thaliana

• Another species of Arabidopsis family is able to phytoaccumulate Arsenic.

• Insertion of Ecoli genes arsC and ECS gene

• Gave variant ability to accumulate, but still wasn’t effective

• Sequestration mainly in roots, limited in shoot

• Silencing of the ACR2 Gene

• 16X increases in arsenic accumulation than regular wild variant.

• A promising & sustainable solution to pollution along the Ganga

Arsenic remediation

Detection of Landmines• Transgenic tobacco plant

field tested to detect Landmines

• Dubbed “RedDetect”

• If there is a reduced form of TNT (DNT), reductaseused

• Unspecified gene will prompt production of anthocyanin. Induce red pigments

Conclusion• GMOs can be a greater benefit in pollution

abatement

• Improves pre-existing methods of remediation & abatement of pollutants

• Heightens techniques or gives new sustainable treatment options

• Preserve the eco-system as well as cohabitating humanity.

http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/research-innovations/photos/12-bizarre-examples-of-genetic-engineering/enviropighttp://www.mnn.com/green-tech/research-innovations/photos/12-bizarre-examples-of-genetic-engineering/pollution-fightinghttp://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/oct/16/gmcropshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enviropighttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2590779/http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/news/2151/genetically-modified-plants-detect-landmines?page=0%2C1http://www.terradaily.com/reports/Plants_That_Can_Eat_Arsenic.htmlhttp://www.eplantscience.com/botanical_biotechnology_biology_chemistry/biotechnology/genes_genetic_engineering/genetic_engineering_for_human_welfare/biotech_abatement_of_pollution.phpenvironmental biotechnology, by alan scragghttp://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110414104211.htmhttp://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/11na1.pdfhttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1194896/Cows-bred-burp-reduce-potent-greenhouse-gases.htmlhttp://www.mendeley.com/research/genetically-engineered-escherichia-coli-expressing-fusion-protein-green-fluorescent-protein-carboxylesterase-b1-easily-detected-environment-following-degradation-pesticide-residues/#http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_pollutionhttp://www.turbosquid.com/3d-models/max-microbes-realistic/515560