Global Warming Molecular Machines
The global build up of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere is one of the largest problems faced by scientists today. The emission of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) along with a plethora of other gasses, which are human-generated, has sparked debate on the effect in the environment, and what should be done about these gasses. While some scientists are focusing on the macro-scale, others are focusing on the building blocks of life in the cell. Genetically altered plants stem from bionanotechnology research which is being conducted in hopes of stopping, or even slowing down the buildup of greenhouse gasses. Although genetically altering plants is a newly developed concept, the possible outcomes, which may advance the fight against global warming by producing genetically altered plants, are some of the many positive aspects of continuing to develop this process.
Global warming is an issue which is still being debated, but some of the facts are irrefutable. The Earth’s average temperature is expected to rise between 2 and 11.5 o by the end of the 21st century (EPA). Projections like these should be extremely disturbing to everybody, especially scientists. Due to recent advances in biotechnology, scientists are now working on addressing this growing problem, and some of the solutions are beneficial to the environment without the negative side effects expected when dealing with such a large problem. One such solution has come in the form of genetic engineering in the cells of plants.
The process of genetically altering plants so they have the desired characteristics was once the ground breaking topic and research for the Nobel Peace Prize, but now it is a widely used technique. The process begins when scientists isolate the desired characteristic in the DNA of the plant. The characteristic is located inside the DNA through the use of gel electrophoresis after the DNA has been cut using restriction enzymes. Gel Electrophoresis is the process of separating pieces of DNA through a gel which has a current running though it. Since DNA has a slightly negative charge on it, the smaller pieces move more quickly toward the positively charged side (LabBench 2007). The restriction enzymes act like a pair of scissors when they cut the DNA in exact locations. Once the characteristic is located inside the strand of DNA, it is then removed from the rest of the DNA through the use of another restriction enzyme. Then a piece of a circular plasmid is cut off so that the desired piece of DNA can be inserted in place of the removed piece. Other enzymes, such as DNA ligase, are used to “paste” the donor’s DNA with the plasmid (Brown).
This newly formed strand of desired DNA then goes through the same process that occurs inside the cell. RNA is transcribed from DNA by means of RNA polymerase; the RNA is composed of codons for each amino acid which would later form the protein (Accessexcellence). This process is called translation, and in this step, a ribosome attaches itself to the RNA and reads each codon for each amino acid. The ribosome then puts all of the amino acids together to form a protein. These molecular machines make it possible for all protein synthesis to occur, especially for the genetically altered DNA.
Although the basis for genetic engineering is on the micro-scale, the possibilities are nearly endless in regard to the advances in the macro-scale. Micro biology has made an impact on atmospherical sciences through the means of carbon dioxide intake and methane output. Plants need carbon dioxide to go through photosynthesis, but the amount of carbon dioxide that plants use is the main focus for scientists. By selecting plants which are the most efficient with amounts of carbon dioxide input and the highest oxygen release, scientists can then clone these plants to produce even more efficient plants. These plants could then be used for many different areas of interest. Countries could use these plants to offset their greenhouse gas output, and large corporations are funding research in this field. Toyota Motor Corp. is pumping money into their forest biotechnology laboratory.
Another possibility for genetically engineered plants is for uses in the forest product industry. If plants are made to grow faster, with more usable product, fewer trees need to be used. “‘The idea is to change the tree's genetic regulation to put more available light energy into cellulose production,’ said Michael Moynihan of InterLink Biotechnologies LLC in Princeton, New Jersey, which is part of a Chilean biotechnology concern (Weiss 2000).” The reproductive value for the plants can also be increased through genetic engineering, which would force the plants to become more environmentally efficient with the uptake of CO2. Processing lumber would also require less toxic substances to break down the fibers inside of the trees, thus eliminating millions of gallons of poisons and toxins released into the water and air every year (Weiss 2000). The benefits of genetically modifying plant DNA do not stop there; they continue to assist in the effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Another source of greenhouse gas emission is in the smelting process of ore. Mined ore is a staple of the industrialized world and with such a high demand for refined metals, the process should be as environmentally friendly as possible. Smelting is the process of removing the precious metals from the ore, or the invaluable minerals attached to the metals. This process produces an excess of detrimental gases, but a new form of smelting is now possible due to molecular machines. Bacterial leaching with Thiobacillus ferrooxidans can extract 75-85% of the metals in the ore, in a more environmentally friendly way (Mehta 2001). T. ferrooxidans are sprayed onto piles of the unrefined ore, and then bacteria does the rest. T. ferrooxidans “attaches itself to the mineral particle, cell membrane enzymes attack the crystal lattice structure of the metal sulfide releasing the metal which can then be precipitated (Mehta 2001).” One of the draw backs of using this method of smelting is the amount of time which it takes to get the most out of the bacteria. It takes between 150 and 300 days for the bacteria to completely remove all of the mineral particles from the metal sulfide (Mehta 2001). Scientists are now looking to alter the bacterial DNA to fix this problem. If the specific characteristic which allows the T. ferrooxidans to breakdown the lattice structures is located, then they could use genetic engineering to develop a more time efficient molecular machine.
The developments which are now possible due to genetic engineering with the use of recombinant DNA have also spurred a debate over ethical issues. A plethora of reputable groups, along with some scientists, have taken an anti-genetic engineering stance, or a stance which limits the implementation of such engineering. The concern is along the moral side of biology and the use of technology to enhance the world, and this debate has no end in sight. This may be one factor which could limit the fight against global warming on the nano-scale, along with other un-foreseen problems, but for now, these problems remain at bay.
Bionanotechnology is at the forefront of solving the problem of increasing global temperatures. A wide range of possibilities exist when it comes to nanotechnology, but genetically engineering plants to help fight and slow down carbon dioxide and methane build up is one solution which can be implemented almost immediately. Some of the ways this can be implemented: increasing productivity of carbon dioxide intake and oxygen output in trees, and eliminating the release of millions of gallons of toxins into the atmosphere. The benefits of genetically altering plant DNA through the use of restriction enzymes are pushing the boundaries of modern day environmental research. Global warming is an issue affecting the entire planet, but with the help of molecular machines inside of plant cells, this situation can be slowed and, hopefully, one day return to the state the earth was in before the industrial revolution began to damage the environment.
Works Cited
Accessexcellence. "Protein Synthesis." National Health Museum Retrieved February 9, 2008, from http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/VL/GG/protein_synthesis.html.
Black, R. (2002, 19 August 2002). "Better Rice, Less Global Warming." BBC News, from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2203578.stm.
Brown, J. L. "Making Genetically Engineered Plants." Pennsylvania State University Retrieved February 9, 2008, from pubs.cas.psu.edu/freepubs/pdfs/uk102.pdf.
EPA. "Recent Climate Change." United States Environmental Protection Agency Retrieved February 8, 2008, from http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/science/recenttc.html.
LabBench. (2007). "Gel Electrophoresis." Pearson Education Inc. Retrieved 9 February, 2008, from http://www.phschool.com/science/biology_place/labbench/lab6/gelelect.html.
Mehta, M. D. (2001). "Social, political, legal and ethical areas of inquiry in biotechnology and genetic engineering." Technology in Society 23(2): 241-264.
Weiss, R. (2000). Genetically Modified Trees: A Blessing or Danger for the World? Washington Post.
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