CHAPTER 13

Biotech in Ecology

Key Terms

Ecology A branch of science concerned with the

interrelationships of organisms and their environmentIndicator Species

Use plants, animals, and microbes to warn us about pollutants in the environment

Immunoassays Tests that use antibodies from animal immune

systems to detect specific pollution compounds

Key Terms

Transducer An electronic instrument that measures physical

change in the environment produced by a biosensorBioremediation

An environmental improvement process whereby living organisms can be used to consume and convert pollutants to harmless substances

Biostimulation Adding nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus to

stimulate the growth of naturally occurring microbes

Key Terms

Enhanced bioremediation The group of techniques in which nutrients,

microorganisms, or other materials are introduced to a contamination site to accelerate the clean-up process

Oleophilic bacteria Bacteria capable of breaking down both simple and

complex hydrocarbons found in crude oilPhytoremediation

The process of plants or trees absorbing or immobilizing pollutants

Key Terms

High-yield farming Producing more per acre

Integrated farm management A new method of farm management that aims to

reduce application of chemicals by optimizing the combination and timing of all farm management activities

Refugia A process in which noninsect resistant plants are

grown nearby, either mixed with the biotech crops or planted in large sections

Key Terms

Biodiesel A nonpolluting, biodegradable liquid fuel that is

obtained from renewable raw materials and can be used to replace fossil diesel fuel

What We’ll Talk About

EcologyRole of biotech in benefitting environmentBiotech used to detect environmental pollutantsDistinguish between bio and phyto –remediationHigh yield farming benefits to world hungerPositive effect of genetically modified crops on

environmentConventional vs organic farmingOil spills and biotech combatingBiodiesel fuel benefits for the environmentBenefits of plants surviving harsh conditions

Ecology

Rapidly increasing areaEcology:

A branch of science concerned with the interrelationships of organisms and their environment

Simple: How all organisms interact within the environment

So why the big deal now?

Global warmingPopulation pressure

Eating Breathing Water consumption Waste disposal

PollutionClean up = expen$ive!Goal: Reduce cost of research and develop

more efficient techniques

In the News:

ScienceDaily (Apr. 16, 2012) — New research from North Carolina State University shows that federal requirements governing diesel engines of new tractor trailer trucks have resulted in major cuts in emissions of particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) -- pollutants that have significant human health and environmental impacts.

In the News:

ScienceDaily (Apr. 16, 2012) — Researchers at Rice University and Penn State University have discovered that adding a dash of boron to carbon while creating nanotubes turns them into solid, spongy, reusable blocks that have an astounding ability to absorb oil spilled in water.

In the News:

ScienceDaily (Apr. 13, 2012) — Imagine a world where the rooftops and pavements of every urban area are resurfaced to increase the reflection of the Sun's light rays. Well, this is exactly what a group of Canadian researchers have simulated in an attempt to measure the potential effects against global warming.

In the News:

ScienceDaily (Apr. 12, 2012) — Researchers from the Department of Chemistry at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm, Sweden, have managed to construct a molecular catalyzer that can oxidize water to oxygen very rapidly. In fact, these KTH scientists are the first to reach speeds approximating those is nature's own photosynthesis. The research findings play a critical role for the future use of solar energy and other renewable energy sources.

Happening Now!

ScienceDaily (Apr. 12, 2012) — University of New Hampshire researchers have found that residents of Louisiana and Florida most acutely and directly affected by the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster -- the largest marine oil spill in U.S. history -- said they have changed their views on other environmental issues as a result of the spill.

On that same thought:

One year after the worst oil spill in U.S. history, a sorry legacy of enduring damage, a people wronged and a region scarred remains. The BP oil rig that exploded killed 11 workers and spewed some 170 million gallons of toxic crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico. Whether we look to habitat and wildlife, employment and pay, or basic health and family welfare, the BP oil blowout has devastated the region. The people of the Gulf Coast still live with the disaster every day.

Back it up

Agriculture and Our Environment Plants we grow Chemicals we spray Equipment we use

Advances in Ag Soil plants & bacteria can absorb toxic wastes High-yield farming –decreases deforestation Genetic modifications resistant to disease and insects

Environmental PollutantsIndicator species

One of the oldest methods of detection

Uses plants, animals & microbes as warnings

Determine environmental impacts Absence Presence

Immunoassays Detect specific compounds Kit that uses color

Bioremediation

A set of techniques that: Use living organisms for clean up Clean up toxic waste in water & soil

Derived from: Latin bios: life Latin remedium: Fix or cure

Microbes do this anyway But sometimes we need to speed up the process

Microbes

Turn toxic waste into harmless substancesWhen clean up is over:

Microbes die/return to original levelsGrowth stimulated by nitrogen & phosphorus

BiostimulationWhat if there aren’t microbes where the

pollution is? Microbe “delivery” Excavation to treatment site

Clean up: Insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, petroleum products & detergents

Bioremediation

Enhanced: Nutrients, microorganisms and other materials added

But we need it to be effective!!! Run LOTS of tests

BacteriaWait…Aren’t they bad??

27,000 species!!Best recyclers EVER!!

Break down into basic elementsOIL

Clean up difficult Especially in water!!!!!

Oleophilic Attracted to oil Break down hydrocarbons (in oil) to methanol, H2O &

CO2

Oleophilic Bacteria

Consume and dissolve “chocolate mousse”What they don’t eat?

Turn into “oil milk” Finer oil = Accessible to other bacteria

No chemicals!! Expensive Detrimental

Oil Spills

Other options? Tree bark

Phytoremediation

Process of plants/trees absorbing or immobilizing pollutants

Origin: Phyto: plant Remedium: to fix or clean up

Absorption of more complex materials Heavy metals, solvents, hydrocarbons, pesticides,

radioactive metals, explosives, nitrates, crude oil, landfill runoff, organic pollution

Pollutant must be shallow

Advantages of Bio-/Phyto- remediation

Economical Lost cost

Environmental Harness natural

processes Reduction of

environmental stress

Use of attractive plants

Early use

Disadvantages of Bio-/Phyto-remediation

TimeInapplicability to certain situationsPublic fears

High Yield Farming

Began as Green Revolution in 1960sSpared wilderness from farmland conversionProducing more per acreAlso used in forestry

World Population

Likely to reach 9 BILLION by 2050Increased standard of living:

Meat Dairy Fruit Vegetables Forest Fuel

How????

Consumption

How to feed the world

Only two options: Grow more on current land Use more land

Grow more: Requires technology Technology requires $$$

Use more land Lose wild lands & species Lose other resources

So here’s the deal:

Soil erosion Use of herbicide Conservation tillage “no-leach” farming GPS

Plant modification Genetics Insect resistant Herbicide tolerant

Integrated Farm Management

Reduce applications

Optimize timingSquare yards

Disease Prevention

Early detectionReduce chemicals

The Numbers

Conservation tillage cuts soil erosion by 65-98%

In 2000, 52 MILLION acres of US soil were no-till That’s 17% of the country’s farmland

If no-till were widely adopted in the US: CO2 emissions would be cut by 20% Not to mention time saved and productivity increases

GMCs (And not the car)

Genetically Modified Crops Transfer of genetic material to wild organisms Herbicide resistant weeds Insect tolerance to natural insecticides

Refugia (aka: Refuge= 20%) Non-insect-resistant plants Mixed or nearby in sections “Haven” to breed non-tolerant insects Non-tolerant will mate with tolerant

Baculovirus

Harsh Conditions

Plants to withstand:

Drier

Colder

Saltier

For:

Rice (long periods under water)

Tomatoes (salty soil tolerance up

to 50% more)

Corn (aluminum tolerance)

Biodiesel

Obtained from renewable raw materials Nonpolluting Biodegradable

Replace fossil fuel?Made from oilseeds

Decreases harmful emissionsUse of Ag crops

10% of cropland for biodiesel all domestic ag fuel would be produced domestically

Biodiesel Advantages

Reduce pollution through greenhouse gasesReduce global warmingBiodegradable product

Degrades into organic by 85% in 28 daysMaterials

Vegetable oils Used cooking oils Animal fats

Biodiesel Challenges

Cost 3x more to produce than petroleum

Solutions? Biotech to increase oil content in canola & soybeans