Genetic modification saves energy

With thousands of gallons of oil being lost to the sea each day and causing widespread ecological damage in the Gulf of Mexico, alternative sources of energy need to be cultivated. Our dependence on oil won't change overnight, however. Devices that run on solar, wind and water-power represent only a small portion of our overall energy consumption and many products are manufactured using oil. A cleaner, safer source of fuel might be found in genetically modified algae.

Researchers at Arizona State University have found a way to harvest oil from cyanobacteria, the photosynthesizing blue-green algae. After being reprogrammed, the cyanobacteria act like miniature biofuel factories, continuously leaking fatty acid oil through their cell walls. The oil separates from the bacteria and becomes a floating, whitish residue. Researchers induced the microbes to focus purely on survival and fat production, which caused a threefold increase in fatty acid oil yield. The modified cyanobacteria produce more energy than other biofuels, such as corn, and require only the sun for its own energy needs. Because microbes don't need to be grown in fields, large swaths of valuable cropland currently devoted to biofuel production could be reserved for food production.

Genetically modified (GM) plants and animals often raise fears of safety, ownership and long-term impact on the environment and human health, all of which should be considered. We have been modifying our foods and animals for centuries through selective breeding, but now we can quickly, fundamentally alter them by precisely manipulating, splicing and removing their genetic data. Without the security net of centuries of trial-and-error, any mistakes may quickly spread through a population and cause further damage through a loss of genetic diversity.

Still, GM products can conserve energy and bring us better health. Vitamins and insulin both come from modified bacteria. Vegetables like pumpkins perform bioremediation by absorbing toxins from the soil, while microbes are encouraged to eat oil spills. Modified enzymes in Genencor's laundry detergent replace harsh chemical phosphates and allow clothing to be washed in cold water. Meanwhile, pear trees are shrinking to save space and potatoes are gaining more starch. The extra starch reduces the amount of oil that soaks into the potatoes, resulting in less greasy chips and fries.

Keeping your fingers grease-free may be at the bottom of the list of pressing world needs, but responsible and carefully monitored GM products have the potential to light the future, quite literally, with clean energy. Arizona State University researchers are currently working to improve the efficiency of their cyanobacteria and believe the small cells will become an important, renewable fuel source in the near future.