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Plastic-degradation Properties of Genetically Modified Algae
Summary
Scientists are genetically engineering a type of algae to produce enzymes that break down plastic, aiming to tackle the growing problem of microplastic pollution in our food and water. In this early-stage study, researchers successfully modified the algae's DNA and grew one promising sample in the lab, though more testing is needed before this could be used to actually clean up microplastics at a larger scale. This matters because microplastics are notoriously hard to filter out of water due to their tiny size, and finding a biological way to break them down could eventually help reduce human exposure to this widespread contaminant.
Microplastics contaminate both food and water sources, yet their microscopic size poses a challenge when attempting to use typical filtration methods. How then, do we remove microplastics? One of the answers currently being researched at JCCC investigates Chlorella vulgaris, a wild-type algae species capable of degrading plastic polymers. With additional genetic engineering we attempt to enhance this inherent plastic-degradation capacity. To edit the DNA of Chlorella vulgaris, I used Agrobacterium to introduce plastic-degrading enzymes and hygromycin resistance genes into the algal genome. Following genetic transformation, individual clones undergo selection through repeated hygromycin exposure, eliminating unsuccessful clones. DNA electrophoresis confirms successful integration of MHETase and PETase genes, which encode the plastic-degradation enzymes. Successfully transformed clones are cultured at a larger scale to evaluate their plastic-degradation efficiency. One positive clone from the initial sample was selected for cultivation in a macroscale test tube. Replication of this experiment across various semesters will contribute to the data necessary in perfecting the technique used, then larger scale test can be done.