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Biotech in Ecology

Biotech in Ecology. Chapter 13. Key Terms. Ecology A branch of science concerned with the interrelationships of organisms and their environment Indicator Species Use plants, animals, and microbes to warn us about pollutants in the environment Immunoassays

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Biotech in Ecology

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  1. Biotech in Ecology Chapter 13

  2. Key Terms • Ecology • A branch of science concerned with the interrelationships of organisms and their environment • Indicator 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

  3. Key Terms • Transducer • An electronic instrument that measures physical change in the environment produced by a biosensor • Bioremediation • 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

  4. 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 oil • Phytoremediation • The process of plants or trees absorbing or immobilizing pollutants

  5. 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

  6. Key Terms • Biodiesel • A nonpolluting, biodegradable liquid fuel that is obtained from renewable raw materials and can be used to replace fossil diesel fuel

  7. What We’ll Talk About Ecology Role of biotech in benefitting environment Biotech used to detect environmental pollutants Distinguish between bio and phyto –remediation High yield farming benefits to world hunger Positive effect of genetically modified crops on environment Conventional vs organic farming Oil spills and biotech combating Biodiesel fuel benefits for the environment Benefits of plants surviving harsh conditions

  8. Ecology • Rapidly increasing area • Ecology: • A branch of science concerned with the interrelationships of organisms and their environment • Simple: How all organisms interact within the environment

  9. So why the big deal now? • Global warming • Population pressure • Eating • Breathing • Water consumption • Waste disposal • Pollution • Clean up = expen$ive! • Goal: Reduce cost of research and develop more efficient techniques

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

  12. 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.

  13. 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.

  14. 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.

  15. 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.

  16. 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

  17. Environmental Pollutants • Indicator 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

  18. 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

  19. Microbes • Turn toxic waste into harmless substances • When clean up is over: • Microbes die/return to original levels • Growth stimulated by nitrogen & phosphorus • Biostimulation • What if there aren’t microbes where the pollution is? • Microbe “delivery” • Excavation to treatment site • Clean up: Insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, petroleum products & detergents

  20. Bioremediation • Enhanced: • Nutrients, microorganisms and other materials added • But we need it to be effective!!! • Run LOTS of tests

  21. Bacteria • Wait…Aren’t they bad?? • 27,000 species!! • Best recyclers EVER!! • Break down into basic elements • OIL • Clean up difficult • Especially in water!!!!! • Oleophilic • Attracted to oil • Break down hydrocarbons (in oil) to methanol, H2O & CO2

  22. 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

  23. Oil Spills • Other options? • Tree bark

  24. 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

  25. Advantages of Bio-/Phyto- remediation • Economical • Lost cost • Environmental • Harness natural processes • Reduction of environmental stress • Use of attractive plants • Early use

  26. Disadvantages of Bio-/Phyto-remediation • Time • Inapplicability to certain situations • Public fears

  27. High Yield Farming • Began as Green Revolution in 1960s • Spared wilderness from farmland conversion • Producing more per acre • Also used in forestry

  28. World Population • Likely to reach 9 BILLION by 2050 • Increased standard of living: • Meat • Dairy • Fruit • Vegetables • Forest • Fuel • How???? Consumpt ion

  29. 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

  30. 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 timing • Square yards • Disease Prevention • Early detection • Reduce chemicals

  31. 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

  32. 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

  33. 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)

  34. Biodiesel • Obtained from renewable raw materials • Nonpolluting • Biodegradable • Replace fossil fuel? • Made from oilseeds • Decreases harmful emissions • Use of Ag crops • 10% of cropland for biodiesel all domestic ag fuel would be produced domestically

  35. Biodiesel Advantages • Reduce pollution through greenhouse gases • Reduce global warming • Biodegradable product • Degrades into organic by 85% in 28 days • Materials • Vegetable oils • Used cooking oils • Animal fats

  36. Biodiesel Challenges • Cost • 3x more to produce than petroleum • Solutions? • Biotech to increase oil content in canola & soybeans

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