CSB #3: Improving Plant Growth Through Genetics

Using Genetics to fight World Hunger and Global Warming

Definitions

• sequestering: to isolate or hide
• perennial: lasting for a long time; enduring
• proliferation: rapid increase in numbers
• biofuel: fuel derived from living matter
• Arabidopsis: small flowering plants related to cabbage and mustard

Summary

Researchers have found a gene that promotes faster-growing and larger roots, which could lead to plants with a robuster ability to sequester excess atmospheric carbon. Changes to a single gene in a model organism in plant biology, Arabidopsis thaliana, promote faster root growing. This means that more harmful carbon in the air could be absorbed by the plant roots. The carbon helps plants build their roots. In addition, the bigger root systems could help with food shortages by growing crops in warmer and drier climates. There is also benefits for the biofuel industry. Perennial grasses like switchgrass, that are important factors for biofuel, could take hold more quickly. In plants, there is a zone near the tip of the root where stem cells go from proliferation to differentiation into specific tissue types. This is where the cells undergo rapid division and increase in volume. Philip Benfey and his team named the gene that increases root size, UPB1.


Discussion
I think that this discovery is a giant leap for many aspects in the field of biology. It could very well solve many important world issues at the moment. The problem of global warming can be lowered significantly. Also, the problem of world hunger can be fixed. The plants can now grow in dry climates like Africa where starvation is a major predicament. Biofuels are starting to become more prevalent in coming up with a new solution for fossil fuels. These genetically altered grasses can be a major and seemingly endless solution for this problem. Overall, not only was this a leap in biology, but also a possible panacea for major world issues.


Questions
How long will this take for it to be on the public market?
How would modernizing farms affect farmers who cannot afford an upgrade?


Citations
Orcutt, Mike. "Rooting Out CO2: Scientists Isolate a Gene That Boosts Plant Root
     Growth." www.scientificamerican.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2010.
     <http://www.scientificamerican.com/
     article.cfm?id=roots-genetic-engineering-biofuel#comments>.

CSB #2: Marine Algae could be used as Fuel

Marine Algae Offers Sustainable Fuel Hope

Definitions

• biofuel: a fuel derived directly from living matter
• photobioreactor: is a bioreactor which incorporates some type of light source to provide photonic energy input into the reactor.

Summary

Scientist Yusuf Chisti believes that biofuels from seawater algae are the only alternative to fossil fuels that don't compromise food and freshwater supplies. On the other hand, Massey University in New Zealand says that the algae won't provide a sufficient amount of fuel. Yusuf Chisti says that growing the seawater algae is simple and can utilize waste carbon dioxide and standard fertilizer. However, it requires a large amount of fossil fuels and energy to produce the algal biofuels. Chisti disagrees, and he believes that the net energy gain from sunlight in production of algal fuels is positive. Currently, the algal biofuel is too expensive, so Chisti is growing oil-rich algae that are more economical. The way the algae is grown impacts their oil content. Chisti and his team of scientists are using photobioreactors which only take sunlight from the environment. The reactors could reduce cost and energy consumption. 


Discussion
If the seawater algae produces enough energy, it could potentially be used as a replacement for fossil fuels. Unfortunately, fossil fuels impact the environment and have only a finite supply. The algae will have a much larger supply and reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. In addition, it is easy to grow. I chose this topic because this discovery eliminates two problems at once. It helps put an end to global warming and gives humans a back up plan after fossil fuels run out. I think it is great that Yusuf Chisti discovered the use of photobioreactors in order to increase productivity. This discovery could play a key role in solving world issues if successful.


Questions
How easy will it be to produce enough oil to be used on a daily basis like fossil fuels?
Once successful, will the price of the oil be significantly higher, lower or the same price as current fuel?


Citations
Extance, Andy. “Marine algae offer sustainable fuel hope.” environmentalresearchweb. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Oct. 2010. <http://environmentalresearchweb.org/‌cws/‌article/‌news/‌44012>.

CSB #1: Genetically Altered Bacterium Creates Diesel Fuel

Genetically Altered Bacterium Creates Diesel Fuel

Definitions

• Hydrocarbons: a compounds containing only hydrogen and carbon
• Alkanes: any saturated hydrocarbon with the formula C _n H _2 n +2
• Cyanobacterium: a photosynthetic bacteria, also called blue-green alga, that produces molecular oxygen and uses water as an electron-donating substrate in photosynthesis 

Summary
A biotech company won a patent on genetically altered bacteria that takes carbon dioxide and sunlight and converts it into ingredients of diesel fuel. The bacterium secretes the product, in the alkane class, like sweat. Fortunately, the organism can grow in water that is not drinkable and useless farmland. The bacteria is a cyanobacterium and it produces the fuel through photosynthesis. This organism avoids the need of energy to separate the algae from the water and then process the oil into a useable fuel. It can run on carbon dioxide in the ordinary air, but it will perform better with power plant exhaust.


Discussion
This scientific discovery can be the future replacement of fossil fuels. Photosynthesis is a simple yet effective way of creating the secreting diesel fuel. Once this project is up and running with factories, the goal of replacing fossil fuels is easily reachable. If the bacterium uses carbon dioxide in its process, the global problem of pollution will be less of a dilemma. I chose this topic because this could be a milestone for environmental science, and lead to other discoveries that solve different global problems.


Questions
How many years can these genetically altered bacterium be created for?
Can these biofuels eventually be used in the future to power most of the world?


Resources

Wald, Matthew L. New York Times. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Sept. 2010. <http://www.nytimes.com/‌2010/‌09/‌14/‌science/‌earth/‌14fuel.html?_r=1&src=me&ref=science\>.


http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/14/science/earth/14fuel.html?src=me&ref=science