Syllabus- Environment (Biotechnology in Environmental cleanup process)
Number of questions- Mains: 02, Prelims – 10
Mains Questions of the day-
1.National policy needed for synthetic biology, Discuss.
Introduction:
Write briefly about Synthetic biology
Body:
Why policy is needed?
Mention the application of synthetic biology and potential negative impact of it.
Conclusion:
While making a national strategy India should consider following Principles such as:
- The precautionary principle of international law.
- State sovereignty and prevention of transboundary harm.
- State responsibility and Environment Impact Assessment.
- Principles of access to information, public participation and access to justice.
- People’s right to self-determination and free prior informed consent.
- Sustainable development and inter-generational equity.
Content:
- Department of Biotechnology has stressed the need for a national policy that can consolidate India’s stand on the issue.
- Synthetic biology refers to the science of using genetic sequencing, editing, and modification to create unnatural organisms or organic molecules that can function in living systems.
- Synthetic biology enables scientists to design and synthesis new sequences of DNA from scratch.
- Synthetic biology has applications in various fields from developing synthetic organisms for vaccination to creating natural products in a lab such as vanillin, the organic compound extracted from vanilla seeds, which can now be grown in yeasts with additional plant genomes.
- In the pharmaceutical industry, synthetic biology can be used to make natural compounds such as artemisinin used for the treatment of malaria and Car T cell therapy for cancer treatment.
- It is starting to be used in the fashion industry as well; some companies are exploring the possibility of dyeing jeans without producing hazardous waste.
- Then there are companies using it to deliver fixed nitrogen to plants instead of using fertilisers, engineering microbes to create food additives or brew proteins.
- Currently, approvals for such crops come from the Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC) under the Department of Biotechnology.
Applications of Synthetic Biology:
- Standardised Biological Parts: identify and categorise standardised genomic parts that can be used (and synthesised quickly) to build new biological systems.
- Applied Protein Design: Redesign existing biological parts and expand the set of natural protein functions for new processes.
For eg: Modified rice to produce beta-carotene (a nutrient usually associated with carrots), that prevents Vitamin A deficiency.
- Natural Product Synthesis: Engineer microbes to produce all of the necessary enzymes and biological functions to perform complex multistep production of natural products.
For e.g, Microorganisms harnessed for bioremediation (use of living microorganisms to degrade environmental contaminants into less toxic forms) to clean pollutants from water, soil and air.
- Synthetic Genomics:Design and construct a ‘simple’ genome for a natural bacterium.
For e.g, Yeast engineered to produce rose oil as an eco-friendly and sustainable substitute for real roses that perfumers use to make luxury scents.
Potential Negative Impacts of Synthetic Biology:
- Negative Environmental Health:
- The intentional or accidental release of genetically engineered organisms into the environment could have significant negative impacts on both human and environmental health.
- Misuse of these technologies and a failure to account for unintended consequences could cause irreversible environmental damage.
- Do-It-Yourself Biology:
- It’s a movement of “citizen scientists” interested in synthetic biology experiments that has become an international phenomenon over the last decade.
- Often with little prior knowledge of the field, enthusiasts meet in makeshift labs to take crash courses in biotechnology and conduct hands-on experiments.
- Ethical Concerns: Many of the ethical questions relevant to synthetic biology are similar to ethical discussions related to genome editing like:
- Are humans crossing moral boundaries by redesigning organisms with synthetic biology techniques?
- If synthetic biology yields new treatments and cures for diseases, who in our society will have access to them?
2.Mention the potential application of Biotechnology in Environment?
Introduction:
Write briefly about biotechnology and its importance
Body:
Mention the application of biotechnology in Environment.
Conclusion:
- It can be concluded that the application of biotechnology in the field of environment is immense.
- The application of biotechnology helps to reduce or solve the problems related to the environment and thus cleans the ecosystem for living organisms.
- The main goal of Environmental Biotechnology is to protect the natural ecosystem like land, water, air, soil and sediments.
- Because of industrialization, urbanization and anthropogenic activities, the environment is facing different issues like depletion of natural resources, pollution of natural bodies, etc.; by applying the applications of biotechnology, these problems can be effectively and efficiently solved.
Content:
- The use of Biotechnology for solving environmental problems and ecosystems is known as Environmental Biotechnology
- It is applied to study the natural environment and natural habitat of living organisms
- According to the International Society for Environment Biotechnology (ISEB), environmental biotechnology is defined as the development, use and regulation of biological systems such as cells, cell compartment, enzymes, for remediation of contaminated environments (land, water, air, and sediments), and for environment-friendly processes (green manufacturing technologies and sustainable environment)
- Biotechnology can be used to tackle environmental issues like deforestation and air pollution
- Biotechnology can help in finding out the level of Particulate Matter 2.5 in the air
- Biotechnology is already providing a clean and renewable alternative to traditional fossil fuels, the burning of which contributes to global warming.
- The benefit of environmental biotechnology helps us to avoid the use of hazardous pollutants and wastes that affect the natural resources and the environment.
Bioenergy
- Biogas, biomass, fills, and hydrogen constitute the source for bioenergy
- The utilization of Environmental Biotechnology can be seen at domestic, industrial and space level programs
- According to the current status of the nation, it can be stated that clean energy is the need of the hour and can be used as an alternative way to exhaustible sources of energy
- One of the pioneer examples of green energy is the waste collected from the organic and biomass wastes, which is processed to produce clean energy
- Every country is opting for biomass energy as it is less harmful to the environment.
Bioremediation
- Bioremediation – is a process that uses mainly microorganisms, plants, or microbial or plant enzymes to detoxify contaminants in the soil and other environments.
- Vital microbes such as bacteria break the complex dead organisms into useful organic matter and nutrients. But according to the researchers, there are some contaminants that cannot be degraded from the environment by the process of bioremediation. E.g.- Lead (Pb) and Cadmium (Cd) cannot be decomposed by the microorganisms
- The process of bioremediation occurs aerobically and anaerobically. In the aerobic condition, there is the requirement of oxygen to perform the process. Ample amount of oxygen acts on contaminants and toxins and hence yields water, and carbon. In case of anaerobic conditions, there is no requirement of oxygen and the microbes work with the chemical compounds present in the soil to decompose the contaminants
- Bioremediation is utilized to tidy up oil slicks or polluted groundwater. For, e.g., the Oil zapper (formulated by TERI) benefits from hydrocarbon intensifies present in unrefined petroleum and slick muck (a dangerous hydrocarbon squander produced by petroleum treatment facilities) and converts them into innocuous CO2 and water.
Following are the types of bioremediations:
- Biotransformation: It is a process of bioremediation in which a complex compound is converted to non-toxic form. This process mainly refers to pharmacologic activity, mainly drugs and xenobiotic
- Phytoremediation: The term Phyto meaning plant and remedial meaning restoring balance. In this process of phytoremediation, green plants and microorganisms are used to decrease the contaminated soils, sludge’s, sediments, ground and surface water
- Microbial Remediation: In this process of microbial remediation, microorganisms are used to degrade organic contaminants. The process of microbial remediation can be aerobic or anaerobic
- Molecular Ecology: this process is associated with evolutionary biology by applying different methods like population genetics, phylogenetic, etc. DNA fingerprinting is used to understand the aspects of nature. This technique is also used to study the population diversity of wild animals, especially the footprints of cheetah and polar bears
- Myco-remediation: In this process of bioremediation, fungi are used for decontamination. Myco-remediation is so called as there is use of fungal-mycelia in the process of bioremediation. In an ecosystem, fungus breaks down the organic substances into smaller and simplest forms. Fungal mycelia produce extracellular enzymes and acids which help in the breakdown of lignin and cellulose.
Biosensors:
- It combines a biological component (such as an enzyme) with various electronic components to trigger a circuit when a particular type of chemical is detected.
- Biosensors are capable of detecting extremely low levels of proteins, hormones, pollutants, gases, and other molecules.
Biotransformation
- The changes in the biology of the environment, which are changes of the complex compound from simple non-toxic to toxic, is called the biotransformation process
- It is used in the Manufacturing sector where poisonous substances are converted to by-products
Biomarkers:
- It is an application of biotechnology in the environment that responds to the chemicals to Measure the effect of pollution caused.
- Biomarker is also an application of environmental biotechnology by measuring levels of chemicals or toxic or pollution that damages the environment.
- It is a major tool to create a link between the oils and its sources.
Prelims Question of the day:
1.In which of the following environmental applications, biotechnology is involved?
- The use of microbes to clean up the environment
- Bioremediation
- Tackle environmental issues like deforestation and air pollution
- All the above
Answer: D
Explanation:
- The use of Biotechnology for solving environmental problems and ecosystems is known as Environmental Biotechnology
- It is applied to study the natural environment and natural habitat of living organisms
- According to the International Society for Environment Biotechnology (ISEB), environmental biotechnology is defined as the development, use and regulation of biological systems such as cells, cell compartment, enzymes, for remediation of contaminated environments (land, water, air, and sediments), and for environment-friendly processes (green manufacturing technologies and sustainable environment)
- Biotechnology can be used to tackle environmental issues like deforestation and air pollution
- Biotechnology can help in finding out the level of Particulate Matter 2.5 in the air
- Biotechnology is already providing a clean and renewable alternative to traditional fossil fuels, the burning of which contributes to global warming.
- The benefit of environmental biotechnology helps us to avoid the use of hazardous pollutants and wastes that affect the natural resources and the environment.
- Bioremediation – is a process that uses mainly microorganisms, plants, or microbial or plant enzymes to detoxify contaminants in the soil and other environments.
2.Which of the following represents the use of living organism to degrade environment pollutants?
- Micro-remediation
- Nano-remediation
- Bio-remediation
- All the above
Answer: C
Explanation:
- Bioremediation is a branch of biotechnology that employs the use of living organisms, like microbes and bacteria, in the removal of contaminants, pollutants, and toxins from soil, water, and other environments.
- Bioremediation is used to clean up oil spills or contaminated groundwater
3.Which of the following bacterium is called as the superbug that could clean up oil spills?
- Bacillus Subtilis
- Pseudomonas putida
- Pseudomonas denitrificans
- Bacilius denitrificans
Answer: B
Explanation:
- Pseudomonas putida is a bacterium that normally lives in water.
- It is a Gram-negative bacterium like E. coli but is commonly used in environmental studies because it is able to degrade many aromatic compounds.
- Streptomyces coeli color is a soil bacterium that is Gram positive.
- Pseudomonas putida is a gram-negative bacterium that helps in cleaning the oil spills
4.Which of the following is the process of extracting metals from ore bearing rocks?
- Bio extraction
- Microbial extraction
- Bio filtration
- Bioleaching
Answer: D
Explanation:
- Bioleaching is the extraction of metals from their ores through the use of living organisms. This is much cleaner than the traditional heap leaching using cyanide
- Bioleaching is one of several applications within bio-hydrometallurgy and several methods are used to recover copper, zinc, lead, arsenic, antimony, nickel, molybdenum, gold, silver, and cobalt.
5.Which of the following represents the process of converting environmental pollutants into harmless products by naturally occurring microbes?
- Ex-situ bioremediation
- Intrinsic bioremediation
- Extrinsic bioremediation
- None
Answer: B
Explanation:
- In situ bioremediation—the use of microorganisms for on-site removal of contaminants—is potentially cheaper, faster, and safer than conventional cleanup methods.
- But in situ bioremediation is also clouded in uncertainty, controversy, and mistrust.
- The process of converting environmental pollutants into harmless products by naturally occurring microbes is called Intrinsic bioremediation
6.Which of the following involves Ex-situ bioremediation?
- Degradation of pollutants by microbes directly
- Removal of pollutants and collection at a place to facilitate microbial degradation
- Degradation of pollutants by genetically engineered microbes
- All the above
Answer: B
Explanation:
- Ex-situ bioremediation is a biological process in which excavated soil is placed in a lined above-ground treatment area and aerated following processing to enhance the degradation of organic contaminants by the indigenous microbial population.
- Removal of pollutants and collection at a place to facilitate microbial degradation
7.Which of the following microbe is widely used in the removal of industrial wastes?
- Trichoderma
- Aspergillus niger
- Pseudomonas putida
- Biomarkers
Answer: B
Explanation:
- Industrial bioremediation is used to clean wastewater.
- Most treatment systems rely on microbial activity to remove unwanted mineral nitrogen compounds (i.e. ammonia,nitrite, nitrate).
- The removal of nitrogen is a two stage process that involves nitrification and denitrification.
- Heavy metal pollution has been a pressing problem.
- Application of biosorbents can be a promising alternative to combat the problem.
- Aspergillus niger as a biosorbent has been used.
8. By which of the following process the microorganisms remove metals?
- Adsorption and complexation
- Adsorption and precipitation
- Adsorption and volatilization
- All the above
Answer: D
Explanation:
- Microorganisms have been known to have a great deal of potential for bioremediation of soil pollutants and also increase the production of agricultural crops with low input.
- Microorganisms play essential roles in removal of heavy metals from the environment.
- The microbial bioremediation of heavy metals is emerging as an effective technique.
- Microorganisms can decontaminate metals by valence conversion, volatilization or extracellular chemical precipitation.
- Microbial cells can convert metals from one oxidation state to another thus reducing their toxicity.
- Secretions from microbial metabolic activities can dissolve heavy metals and soil particles containing heavy metals.
- Precipitation, biosorption and enzymatic transformation are the processes used by microbes to degrade, detoxify or transform heavy metals to more stable, less mobile or inert forms
9.In which of the following removal process chlorella are widely used?
- Organic wastes
- Hydrocarbons
- Heavy metals
- All the above
Answer: C
Explanation:
- In wastewater treatment, heavy metals are very important due to their abundant hazardous and sometimes irreparable effects.
- There are various chemical and physical methods including ion exchange, reverse osmosis, electro-dialysis, and ultrafiltration for removing heavy metals from wastewater, but economic and treatment operation efficiency have attracted researchers to biological treatment approach for years.
- The microalgae have a significant capability in absorbing and eliminating heavy metals from wastewater. One of the most attractive microalgae species for this application is the Chlorella vulgaris.
10.Which of the following represents a non-directed physico-chemical interaction between heavy metal ions and microbial surface?
- Biotransformation
- Bioconversion
- Bio-sorprtion
- Bio mining
Answer: C
Explanation:
- Bio-sorption is a physiochemical process that occurs naturally in certain biomass which allows it to passively concentrate and bind contaminants on to its cellular structure.
- Bio-sorption can be defined as the ability of biological materials to accumulate heavy metals from wastewater through metabolically mediated or physico-chemical pathways of uptake.
- Though using biomass in environmental cleanup has been in practice for a while, scientists and engineers are hoping this phenomenon will provide an economical alternative for removing toxic heavy metals from industrial wastewater and aid in environmental remediation.