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Define environmental biotechnology.
The direct study of biotechnology in the environment or the applications of biotechnologies that focus on improving the environment.
What is metagenomics?
The study of the genomes of whole communities of microscopic life forms.
Which of the following is a method used in metagenomics?
Cultivation-based techniques have successfully targeted 50% of microbes in the environment.
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What role do microbes play in bioremediation?
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What is the function of integrons?
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Phytoremediation uses __________ for decontaminating or stabilizing contaminants from soil.
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What does biostimulation involve?
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What are BTEX compounds?
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What is the primary goal of bioremediation?
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What was the result of the original toluene-degrading strain being inoculated into another plant?
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How much faster was toluene removed from the hydroponic solution by transgenic plants compared to vector-control plants?
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What are the general ethical standards in research projects involving human subjects?
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Biotechnology can produce unanticipated consequences that may negatively affect the problems it aims to solve.
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Which of the following is a question related to access in biotechnology?
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What is a potential ethical concern regarding the use of botulinum toxin for cosmetic purposes?
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What unintended consequence can improved crop yields lead to?
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Access to __________ is a question of individual access to money.
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What organization welcomes biosafety associations in the Caribbean, Turkey, and Morocco?
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Define environmental biotechnology.
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What is metagenomics?
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What is bioremediation?
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Which of the following methods are used in metagenomic research? (Select all that apply)
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In biostimulation, nutrients, oxidants, or electron donors are released into the environment to stimulate naturally occurring microorganisms to degrade a contaminant like __________.
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Phytoremediation only applies to inorganic pollutants.
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What are BTEX compounds?
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What is the function of Rhodococcus species in bioremediation?
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What is Stable Isotope Probing (SIP)?
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How much faster was toluene removed from the hydroponic solution by transgenic plants compared to vector-control plants?
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Transgenic tobacco expressing CYP2E1 completely removed benzene within three days.
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What does bioethics evaluate?
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What is the guiding principle often followed by scientists when involving human subjects in research?
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What is a significant concern when improving crop yields using biotechnology?
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Access to biotechnology can be defended on the basis of individual ______.
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Botulinum toxin type A is safe for all individuals to use regardless of health conditions.
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Who should decide on the accessibility to novel and expensive technology?
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Study Notes
Environmental Biotechnology
- Focuses on applying biotechnological techniques to improve the environment.
- Key applications include bioremediation and phytoremediation.
Bioremediation
- Involves using biological organisms to break down hazardous substances into less toxic forms.
- Microbes can degrade toxic xenobiotic compounds once thought resistant to biological processes.
- Techniques include the release of engineered organisms to enhance environmental cleanup.
Phytoremediation
- Utilizes plants to uptake and stabilize contaminants in soil.
- Genetically modified plants may be developed for enhanced pollutant absorption.
- Ideal phytoremediators possess traits like high pollutant tolerance, extensive root systems, and fast growth rates.
Metagenomics
- Studies the genomes of whole communities of microorganisms to identify beneficial genes.
- Methods include shotgun DNA sequencing and PCR techniques.
- Allows the discovery of novel compounds like antibiotics and enzymes for pollutant degradation.
Stable Isotope Probing (SIP)
- A technique to identify active members of microbial communities by incorporating isotopes into their DNA or RNA.
- Useful for assessing the presence of specific microorganisms capable of degrading pollutants, like phenol.
Integrons and Antibiotic Resistance
- Integrons are mobile genetic elements that capture gene cassettes associated with antibiotic resistance.
- They help bacteria adapt to environmental changes by acquiring genes related to resistance against β-lactams and other antibiotics.
- Gene cassettes can be expressed into functional proteins, enhancing bacterial survival.
Biostimulation
- Involves adding nutrients or electron donors to stimulate naturally occurring microorganisms to degrade contaminants.
- Example: Injection of oxygen into anaerobic zones to metabolize methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in contaminated environments.
Rhodococcus in Bioremediation
- Actinobacteria known for degrading a wide range of pollutants, including hydrocarbons and aromatic compounds.
- Strains of Rhodococcus have been shown to survive in harsh chemical environments and possess versatile enzymatic pathways for degradation.
BTEX Compounds
- Refers to Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylene, commonly found in gasoline.
- Exposure occurs predominantly in urban areas with high traffic and fuel storage.
- Phytoremediation strategies involve transferring degradation genes to plants, enhancing their ability to tolerate and remove BTEX compounds.
Bioethics in Biotechnology
- Addresses the moral implications and ethical considerations of biotechnological advancements.
- Emphasizes ensuring research benefits are maximized while risks to human subjects are minimized.
- Bioethics evaluates the broader goals of biotechnology, such as healthcare improvements and environmental sustainability.### Ethics and Bioethics in Biotechnology
- Ethics are shaped by cultural moral norms and principles, varying across communities.
- Decision-making in modern biotechnology depends on established principles and influencing factors.
Key Bioethics Questions
- Who should control biotechnological advancements and their applications?
- What criteria should dictate what technologies are banned or permitted?
- Profits from biotechnologies raise questions about who should benefit financially.
- Access to expensive treatments, like costly drugs or surgeries, is contingent on individual financial capacity.
Access to Health Care
- Individuals often struggle with the affordability of health care, including treatments like Botox, which costs between 300to300 to 300to500, with effects lasting approximately five months.
- Botox is derived from botulinum toxin type A, produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, known for causing food poisoning.
Individual Rights vs. Societal Concerns
- While individual rights can justify access to biotechnological treatments, ethical questions arise regarding treatments that present uncertain benefits or potential risks to future generations.
- The debate on reproductive cloning exemplifies the balance between individual desire and broader societal implications.
Biotechnology and Food Security
- Transgenic crops designed to thrive in poor soils and yield higher outputs without fertilizers can significantly aid impoverished communities and nations.
- Historical agricultural improvements, such as the "Green Revolution" in India, drastically enhanced crop yields from the 1940s to the 1980s.
- Increased food security can lead to population growth, which may create challenges such as overcrowding and heightened infection risks.
Control of Agricultural Biotechnology
- Control over the distribution of genetically modified seeds, such as terminator seeds, rests with agricultural biotechnology firms, impacting seed accessibility and agricultural practices.
International Collaboration
- The International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA) welcomes new biosafety associations globally, including those in the Caribbean, Turkey, and Morocco, highlighting the importance of international standards in biotechnology safety.
Environmental Biotechnology
- Focuses on applying biotechnological techniques to improve the environment.
- Key applications include bioremediation and phytoremediation.
Bioremediation
- Involves using biological organisms to break down hazardous substances into less toxic forms.
- Microbes can degrade toxic xenobiotic compounds once thought resistant to biological processes.
- Techniques include the release of engineered organisms to enhance environmental cleanup.
Phytoremediation
- Utilizes plants to uptake and stabilize contaminants in soil.
- Genetically modified plants may be developed for enhanced pollutant absorption.
- Ideal phytoremediators possess traits like high pollutant tolerance, extensive root systems, and fast growth rates.
Metagenomics
- Studies the genomes of whole communities of microorganisms to identify beneficial genes.
- Methods include shotgun DNA sequencing and PCR techniques.
- Allows the discovery of novel compounds like antibiotics and enzymes for pollutant degradation.
Stable Isotope Probing (SIP)
- A technique to identify active members of microbial communities by incorporating isotopes into their DNA or RNA.
- Useful for assessing the presence of specific microorganisms capable of degrading pollutants, like phenol.
Integrons and Antibiotic Resistance
- Integrons are mobile genetic elements that capture gene cassettes associated with antibiotic resistance.
- They help bacteria adapt to environmental changes by acquiring genes related to resistance against β-lactams and other antibiotics.
- Gene cassettes can be expressed into functional proteins, enhancing bacterial survival.
Biostimulation
- Involves adding nutrients or electron donors to stimulate naturally occurring microorganisms to degrade contaminants.
- Example: Injection of oxygen into anaerobic zones to metabolize methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in contaminated environments.
Rhodococcus in Bioremediation
- Actinobacteria known for degrading a wide range of pollutants, including hydrocarbons and aromatic compounds.
- Strains of Rhodococcus have been shown to survive in harsh chemical environments and possess versatile enzymatic pathways for degradation.
BTEX Compounds
- Refers to Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylene, commonly found in gasoline.
- Exposure occurs predominantly in urban areas with high traffic and fuel storage.
- Phytoremediation strategies involve transferring degradation genes to plants, enhancing their ability to tolerate and remove BTEX compounds.
Bioethics in Biotechnology
- Addresses the moral implications and ethical considerations of biotechnological advancements.
- Emphasizes ensuring research benefits are maximized while risks to human subjects are minimized.
- Bioethics evaluates the broader goals of biotechnology, such as healthcare improvements and environmental sustainability.### Ethics and Bioethics in Biotechnology
- Ethics are shaped by cultural moral norms and principles, varying across communities.
- Decision-making in modern biotechnology depends on established principles and influencing factors.
Key Bioethics Questions
- Who should control biotechnological advancements and their applications?
- What criteria should dictate what technologies are banned or permitted?
- Profits from biotechnologies raise questions about who should benefit financially.
- Access to expensive treatments, like costly drugs or surgeries, is contingent on individual financial capacity.
Access to Health Care
- Individuals often struggle with the affordability of health care, including treatments like Botox, which costs between 300to300 to 300to500, with effects lasting approximately five months.
- Botox is derived from botulinum toxin type A, produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, known for causing food poisoning.
Individual Rights vs. Societal Concerns
- While individual rights can justify access to biotechnological treatments, ethical questions arise regarding treatments that present uncertain benefits or potential risks to future generations.
- The debate on reproductive cloning exemplifies the balance between individual desire and broader societal implications.
Biotechnology and Food Security
- Transgenic crops designed to thrive in poor soils and yield higher outputs without fertilizers can significantly aid impoverished communities and nations.
- Historical agricultural improvements, such as the "Green Revolution" in India, drastically enhanced crop yields from the 1940s to the 1980s.
- Increased food security can lead to population growth, which may create challenges such as overcrowding and heightened infection risks.
Control of Agricultural Biotechnology
- Control over the distribution of genetically modified seeds, such as terminator seeds, rests with agricultural biotechnology firms, impacting seed accessibility and agricultural practices.
International Collaboration
- The International Federation of Biosafety Associations (IFBA) welcomes new biosafety associations globally, including those in the Caribbean, Turkey, and Morocco, highlighting the importance of international standards in biotechnology safety.
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Description
This quiz covers key concepts from Lectures 6 and 7 of Environmental Biotechnology in BIOC 3260. It focuses on defining environmental biotechnology, the use of metagenomics in the field, and the application of SIP technology. Test your understanding of these important principles.
