Applications of Synthetic Biology in Environmental Conservation

Finding sustainable approaches in using natural resources without further degrading it is among the top priorities of researchers across the globe. On the other hand, there are growing bioremediation efforts in reverting the detrimental effects of environmental contamination caused by humans. Mainstream approaches and efforts have so far been focused on using chemicals or non-natural agents that can themselves harm the environment and are costly. Now, with the help of novel cell-free or cell-based solutions offered by synthetic biology, individual species of microorganisms, microbial ecosystems comprised of multi-species communities or metabolic parts of them are engineered to better utilize, remediate and conserve our natural resources, and even produce useful compounds from waste.

• How does synthetic biology help with environmental conservation?

  Synthetic biology is helping solve worldwide efforts in preserving the environment and rescuing contaminated natural resources through engineering genetic circuits, metabolic pathways and enzymes in microorganisms to:

  • Serve as biosensors for detecting toxic environmental contaminants;
  • Act as natural agents of bioremediation to neutralize contaminants or convert them into non-toxic compounds;
  • Function as cell factories to produce useful compounds, such as biofuel or chemicals, from waste material.
• What is the advantage of applying synthetic biology strategies in environmental conservation?

  Employing synthetic biology strategies in bioremediation and environmental conservation is:

  • Improving the efficiency of detecting environmental pollutants that can sense multiple conditions and regulate responses,
  • Helping avoid the use of harmful agents for the removal of contaminants through natural biodegradation processes,
  • Enabling the production of food, chemicals and energy from agricultural and industrial waste material,
  • Offering control and cost saving compared to traditional approaches.
• What are prime examples of applying synthetic biology solutions to conserve the environment?
  • Biodegradation of the organic pollutant methylphenols in soil through ngineering a species of Pseudomans to contain a complex catabolic pathways comprised of enzymes from five different catabolic pathways from other bacteria
  • Production of biodiesel from waste cooking oil by using Pseudomonas mendocina cells immobilized in magnetic microspheres
  • A biosensor made of engineered populations of E. coli containing an arsenic-sensing gene circuit and a clock-like oscillating circuit that can generate a large dynamic range fluorescence signal based on the level of the heavy metal present in the environment; has the potential for use as a handheld arsenic detector