Microbiology Short
- This is a short article where I am listing some of the types of microbial life that has been discovered that could be used to clean up the climate altering pollutions on our planet, threatening modern human life. -
In recent years vast steps have been made in understanding how our planet functions by understanding the role microbial life has in it. The implications are amazing, to say the least. Bactria and archea hold the abilities to restore balance to the earth, just as they have done for literally billions of years. This however takes a very long time to happen naturally. Because of that, scientists are working to find a way to accelerate this process. However, there is still much, much more to learn and unfortunately there is little funding going into microbiological research. Microbiologist have even had a hard time getting grants from their governments. I am still unclear as to why this may be but my guess is that it's because microbiology just isn't a 'mainstream' science yet. This is saddening because it appears that there is no limit to how much of our waste (pollution) microbial life could break down into organic (useful) material. Not only that, studies show that bacteria adapt and work with 'teams' of other bacteria and archea to increase their productivity at seemingly exponential rates. It really looks as though microbiology may be the answer to all of our environmental concerns.
Here I am going to list some examples of what microbiologists are talking about, by giving the names and attributes of some of our would be microbial saviors. These are just a few of the many potentially life saving microbes that have been found thus far, and microbiologists agree that we have only scratched the surface of microbial universe.
- Deinococcus geothermalis - A bacterium that has a ability to withstand incredible amounts of radiation and ultraviolet light. It could be used to reduce solvents and heavy metals in radioactive sites. An obviously useful trait in today's world. "Its bioremedial application is exemplified in the detoxification of radioactive waste, which is generated during the production of nuclear weapons. It is capable of reducing Fe (III)-nitrilotriacetic acid, U (VI), and Cr (VI). It is also capable of reducing Hg(II)" -(microbewiki.kenyon.edu)
- Alcanivorax borkumensis - "is a rod-shaped bacteria that relies on oil to provide it with energy. Relatively rare in unpolluted seas it quickly comes to dominate the marine microbial ecosystem after an oil spill, and it can be found throughout the world's oceans" -(sciam.com) It has the ability to use both organic and inorganic nitrogen. This bacteria could be used in massive numbers to rapidly break down oil pollution and restore balance to ecosystems around the planet.
- Chromohalobacter salexigens - "Proteobacterium, and as such, closely related to Pseudomonas and Eschrichia coli. It has resistance functions to heavy metals." -(genome.jgi-psf.org) It can be used to clean up dense organic toxic pollutants. This bacterium is a moderate halophile, but it does not require high concentrations of sodium chloride. The salt requirements of this organism can be met by ions of other salts, such as potassium, rubidium, ammonium, bromide.
- Geobacter metallireducens - "It was the first microbe found to oxidize organic compounds to carbon dioxide using iron oxides, essentially rust, as a source of energy." -(Tim Friend, The Third Domain) It can reduce ionic mercury to elemental mercury without having to use a mercury reeducates. It could also be used for bioengineering of new conductive materials and it's phili might serve as biological nanowires.
- Desufovibrio desulfuricans - Not a whole lot is known about this one. It likes to eat surfer, uranium, and toxic metals. This bacterium can live in extreme heat as well. Imagine the possibilities...
Sources
microbewiki.kenyon.edu
plosone.org
ijs.sgmjournals.org
genome.jgi-psf.org
The Third Domain
sciam.com
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