Environmental Genomics
Genes and ecosystem services
Using microbes to break down pollutants
Genomics has given us a better understanding of how to remove pollutants quickly from the soil.
Many microbes, such as bacteria, can remove man-made contaminants from the environment and restore a healthy ecosystem.
Researchers have studied the role of a specific protein that regulates a wide range of bacterial activities, including the breakdown of chemicals, allowing their absorption and use by plants.
By adopting a technology that allows the simultaneous comparison of genes controlling the protein, it was possible to examine how bacteria performed in hundreds of different environments at the same time.
This research helped scientists predict the best conditions for bacterial growth. They can also use this information to enhance natural variation and select bacteria with improved performance for the breakdown of pollutants.