Bioremediation

One of the topics within genetic technology is bioremediation, in which living organisms are used to detoxify environmental pollutants. Basically, microorganisms or plants are used to reduce pollution. A pollutant's structure can be altered so that it is no longer harmful. Enzymes produced by microorganisms can carry out this alteration.

This article is about a species of bacteria than can detoxify contaminated groundwater by removing any uranium that may be present. This species, Geobacter sulfurreducens , gets energy by reducing metal. If you can recall for chemistry, reducing is when a substance gains electrons. This bacteria adds electrons to metals within its environment, including uranium. When uranium is reduced, it becomes less soluble and does not spread as efficiently as it did before, therefore reducing contamination.

Researchers are attempting to discover how this species is able to remove uranium. They strongly believe that the pilli of these bacteria plays an important role in this process. Without pilli, this species reduces uranium in the environment within its cell envelope, which is fatal to the cell. When pilli are present, the bacteria are able to survive the process since it is occurring farther away from the cell and the pilli also increase the surface area at which electron transfer can take place.

Research into the ability of the pilli to conduct electricity and transfer electrons to power the bacteria may help scientists understand more about bioremediation. There is also a possibility of producing non-living devices that can perform the same type of function as these bacteria if enough research is conducted into how the bacteria function. It is also possible that this species can be manipulated to remove other radioactive isotopes of elements, such as plutonium. Overall, research into bioremediation could be very beneficial to the environment.