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Synthetic biology tools for environmental protection
Summary
Researchers reviewed how synthetic biology — engineering microbes and plants with new genetic capabilities — is being applied to detect and remove environmental pollutants, from heavy metals to plastics to industrial chemicals. These genetically engineered "living sensors and cleaners" represent a promising frontier for addressing pollution that conventional treatment methods struggle to handle.
Synthetic biology transforms the way we perceive biological systems. Emerging technologies in this field affect many disciplines of science and engineering. Traditionally, synthetic biology approaches were commonly aimed at developing cost-effective microbial cell factories to produce chemicals from renewable sources. Based on this, the immediate beneficial impact of synthetic biology on the environment came from reducing our oil dependency. However, synthetic biology is starting to play a more direct role in environmental protection. Toxic chemicals released by industries and agriculture endanger the environment, disrupting ecosystem balance and biodiversity loss. This review highlights synthetic biology approaches that can help environmental protection by providing remediation systems capable of sensing and responding to specific pollutants. Remediation strategies based on genetically engineered microbes and plants are discussed. Further, an overview of computational approaches that facilitate the design and application of synthetic biology tools in environmental protection is presented.
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