Environmental biotechnology

Environmental biotechnology

1. 1

Amjad Khan Afridi
Environmental Biotechnology/ Microbiology
Environmental biotechnology
 Solving of environmental problems through the
application of biotechnology.
Environmental microbiology
 Study of microbial interactions, microbial processes and
microbial communities in the environment.
 Environmental microbiology includes:
 Study of
 Structure and activities of microbial communities.
 Microbial interaction and interaction with microorganisms.
 Population biology of microorganisms.
 Microbial communities genetic and
evolutionary processes.
 Element cycles and biogeochemical
processes.
 Microbial life in extreme and unusual
environment.
Why environmental biotechnology?
 It is needed to:
 eliminate the hazardous wastes produced by
our other technologies.
 distinguish between similar species and
ensure species are not at risk of extinction.
 create alternative energy sources (i.e. Biofuel).
Current Areas of Research
1. Molecular Ecology
2. Bioremediation
3. Biosensors
4. Biofuels

2. 2

Amjad Khan Afridi
1. Molecular Ecology
 Molecular ecology is the use of molecular genetic tools to study ecological questions.
Techniques such as microarrays and DNA markers are used to study the interactions
and diversity of natural populations.
 Using biological techniques (i.e. DNA fingerprinting) to better understand aspects of
nature.
 This is done to look at the biodiversity of different populations to ensure they are not
at risk of going extinct (cheetahs and polar bears currently).
 It can be used to determine if a new species has emerged and also better map the
evolutionary development of different families of animals.

2. Bioremediation
 Bioremediation is the use of bacteria (or fungi) to clean
up hazardous environmental wastes.
 The bacteria essentially turn the dangerous waste
products into less hazardous, easy to dispose off waste.
 Plants are also being tested in some areas to do this job
(Sunflowers at Chernobyl removed Cesium and
Strontium).
 In North America, bioremediation has been used to clean
up Canada’s DEW line sties in the arctic and has been
used to clean up after oil spills off of Alaska.
 Currently, this science can “engineer” bacteria to break
down hazardous waste right at the workplace to avoid
transport and storage.


Reading a DNA fingerprint Biofuel exaggeration

3. 3

Amjad Khan Afridi
3. Biosensors
 A biosensor uses a biological entity (i.e.
bacteria) to monitor levels of certain chemicals
OR uses chemicals to monitor levels of certain
biological entities (i.e. pathogens).
 Current uses of biosensors include:
 Detecting levels of toxins in an
ecosystem
 Detecting airborne pathogens (i.e.
anthrax)
 Monitoring blood glucose levels

4. Biofuels
 A biofuel is a plant derived fuel that is deemed more environmentally friendly that
current fuel sources as they all release less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
 Ethanol from corn is placed in many gasoline varieties in North America.
 Biodiesel is fuel made from used cooking oil.
 Biogas is made from gases released by compost or a landfill.
 The current project of many biofuel scientists is aptly nicknamed “A Journey to Forever”,
creating a self-sustaining biofuel cell that gives off no greenhouse gas emissions.
 Many different bacterial strains can produce lots of hydrogen under anaerobic conditions.
 This hydrogen can be used as a fuel source with the only waste product being oxidized
hydrogen… water.
 This technology has not been perfected yet.



Dr. Kashif Bashir
Notes: M.PHIL (Microbiology), 2
nd
Semester
Chapter # 02 , Environmental Biotechnology/ Microbiology
Date: 23
rd
September, 2019
Made By Amjad Khan Afridi