We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Algae is Greater than Plastic
Summary
Scientists are engineering algae with special DNA that may help it break down plastic waste, and early lab tests are underway to see if it works. If successful, this approach could offer a natural, eco-friendly way to clean up plastic pollution—which matters for human health too, since plastic waste breaks down into microplastics that end up in our water, food, and even our bodies. This research is still in early stages, so more testing is needed before it could be used in the real world.
Every year more plastic is polluted into the environment, slowly ruining habitats. The goal of this research project is to cultivate an algae that can degrade plastic. The DNA has been introduced to the algae, the clones were then isolated. 16 clones were selected by use of antibiotics for some of the final stages of testing. Then the algae was tested for its ability to break down plastic. The data of the plastic degradation will be reported on. The impact this research will have on the environment could be revolutionary and a sustainable way to decrease the amount of plastic in the environment. This could even restore existing habitats that have been ruined by plastic pollution, slowly reducing the footprint humans have stomped onto the environment. We are planning to further test for protein expression and enzyme activity to ensure plastic degradation.