Hello biologists (and non-biologists alike)! Leo here to talk about my current interest: the climate. But because this is Inner Workings, I wanted to present a little more of a Biological approach through Synthetic Biology. Don’t worry if that sounds complicated, I’ll be breaking it down for you today.
First off, let’s discuss what synthetic biology actually entails. Imagine if you could program cells like a computer... that’s essentially what synthetic biology does! Scientists use tools from biology and engineering to design and build new biological parts, devices, and systems. Frankenstein move aside - we're coding life!
Real talk: our planet is not doing so well. Rising temperatures, melting ice caps, and increasing carbon dioxide (let's just call it CO2) are just some of the problems we’re facing. Traditional methods to tackle these issues are helpful, but we need some next-level solutions. That’s where synthetic biology comes in: it has the potential to offer innovative ways to address climate change.
Here are some of the coolest projects in synthetic biology that are helping to save our planet:
Imagine bacteria that eat CO2 like I do 豆皮. Scientists are working on engineering bacteria to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere and convert it into useful products like biofuels or bioplastics. This could help reduce the amount of greenhouse gases and provide us with sustainable alternatives to fuels and plastics alike.
One of the best things out there right now is actually... algae! I know it might look like slime, but algae is a tiny powerhouse. Scientists are engineering algae to produce biofuels that could one day replace gasoline. Algae grow fast, don’t need fresh water, and absorb CO2 as they grow. It's a perfect trifecta: cleaner fuel, less CO2, and no competition with the plants that grow our own food for water.
Trees are natural CO2 absorbers, but they're natural - let's create synthetic ones that are even more efficient? Researchers are working on designing artificial trees to capture CO2 from the air much more effectively than regular, organic trees. These synthetic trees could be placed in urban areas to help clean the air and reduce greenhouse gases.
Plastic pollution is a huge problem, but synthetic biology AGAIN offers us a solution. Scientists are developing biodegradable plastics made from engineered bacteria. These plastics can break down naturally in the environment, reducing the amount of plastic waste that ends up in our oceans and landfills, or in your water as a microplastic. You're welcome!
Best of all, you don’t need to be a scientist to help out. iGEM is getting popular as a way of introducing these things to young people everywhere - look out for your nearest team, or join their slack channel here.
Synthetic biology is like a climate superhero, offering some pretty high-end solutions to the ongoing climate crisis. From carbon-eating bacteria to biodegradable plastics, to whatever the next iGEM team can concoct in the lab, the only limit is your imagination (and an advanced degree in genomic editing).
Thanks for reading and I hope it's inspired you, even a little, to see some new possibilities in helping the planet.
Commentaires