MIT Scientists Create GMO Biofuel

A team of researchers from MIT have managed to find a solution for the production of genetically modified biofuel which can be mass distributed in the future, lowering the cost of the biofuel available in the market today. The process of deriving biofuels from plants and bio waste can be lengthy and the fermentation is often tainted by unwanted microbes if not done in completely sterile and secure environment. What makes this discovery so astonishing is the fact that they have managed to grow modified microorganisms and generate biofuel from them quickly and efficiently. Therefore, this method of production vastly lowers the environmental issues involved in the current production of biofuel.

The MIT research team is supported by Novogy, which is a startup company that will take over the patent once the formula is perfected and the product passes the final tests. The scientists managed to create genetically modified microbes that use phosphorus and nitrogen, both essential for the production of biofuel. They are the foundation of this sort of fuel and are crucial for the final product porno.

Biofuel and the benefits

The typical way of creating biofuel includes fermentation and a lot of outside factors that take a lot of time. Therefore, biofuel is very expensive and the majority of population cannot afford it right now. However, this new method of generating biofuel by using genetically modified microorganisms will lower both the price of production and the final product.

The team of researchers at MIT created special strains of microorganisms that are capable of using nitrogen and phosphorous from various sources, such as genetically modified Escherichia coli bacteria that uses melamine in order to produce high levels of nitrogen within itself. They also created Yarrowia lipolytica, a strain of yeast capable of using potassium phosphate to generate phosphorus, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae that has the ability to get nitrogen by breaking down cyanimide into urea. All of these microorganisms are found in nature but their abilities to absorb the chemicals from other sources cannot even come close to these strains created at MIT’s laboratories.

Biofuel is important because it does not emit greenhouse gasses like fossil fuel. Using it regularly would make a huge difference in saving the environment and reducing the pollution. Biofuel is derived from plants and agricultural waste and that process can get a bit costly for the manufacturers. The results are not always satisfactory due to the possible microbes that might invade the process of fermentation. By genetically modifying the strains, scientists are making them more resistant to the microbes and therefore securing the positive outcome.

Novology who is behind this project hopes to make a difference in fuel production and once they test out the process and the efficiency of the genetically modifies biofuel, they plan to license the patent and pass it out to bigger fuel companies who have the ability to mass produce this fuel. It would revolutionize the production and the availability of biofuels to the public, as well as prove the critics how useful genetic engineering can be for improving our daily lives.

Plenish Soybeans and the Genetic Reduction of Trans Fats in Oil Use

    Soybeans are an incredibly useful crop necessary around the world for their protein content and their use in creating oils. However, the health liabilities of using soybean oil cause a danger to the public- soybean, when cooked or fried on intense heat create trans-fat- and so DuPont has created “Plenish” soybeans genetically engineered to reduce the amount of trans-fat in their soy.

       To put into perspective how in demand soybean oil is, the website Soyconnection states in their article “Soybean Oil Uses and Overview” that, due to its use in numerous food products such as margarine, shortenings, mayonnaise, salad dressings, frozen foods, imitation dairy and meat, and baked goods, soybean oil is the most highly used food oil in America and takes up 55% of the market of vegetable oils. While this is obviously good for those in the industry there is a problem with such widespread use of soybeans as oil- the health content.

       As reported on GMO-Compass.org, the amount of oleic content available in soybeans is around 23% with higher linoleic acid content. Genetically modified soybeans have a much higher available amount of oleic content at 86%, with a correspondingly lower amount of linoleic acid. The report, “Soya Bean”, goes on to state that it is the linoleic acid that causes the formation of trans fat during the high temperature heating/frying process, and that soybeans like Plenish form less trans-fat as a result.

       The health benefits do not end there. The article “A GMO Soybean, Engineered to Improve Your Health” on fastcoexist.com reports that in addition to lessening the amount of trans-fat, the higher oleic acid content contributes in other ways. The monounsaturated fatty acid is already a main component of heart healthy oils in general, and they contain lower saturated fats in addition to trans-fats, which are culprits in exacerbating high blood pressure. Furthermore, oleic acid plays a large role in maintaining the shelf life of soybean products, improving it to about two to three times the length of normal soybean oil products on the market.

      There’s a practical farming benefit to the use of modified soybeans over, say, high oleic canola oil. Soybeans are both a highly planted crop, taking up lots of farming space, and they are also very resilient, allowing much of the crop to be harvested even in times of hardships or distress. Making healthier soybeans used in the majority of vegetable oils then aims to be a win-win scenario: there are more plentiful and resilient soybeans to be used in the most produced type of oil in America.

     Time will tell if it catches on, though. As the fastcoexist article goes on to mention, unfortunately for DuPont their visual of popular low trans-fat products took too long to make a reality. Because of the time it takes for genetically modified plants to pass rigorous testing and inspections, not only has rival Monsanto come out with their own version named “Vistive Gold”, but producers of other oil products (like that of the aforementioned canola oil) have already moved to corner the market on less trans-fat oils. In addition to that, the stigma surrounding the use of genetically modified plant products, with modified soybeans being a particular focus, has limited the planting and sale of the Plenish soybeans on the world market. There is hope that soybeans can serve as an ambassador of sorts about the wondrous benefits of genetic modification, but in case there isn’t enough interest or market share left for them as edibles there one more option- industrial uses, like use in foam packing and hydraulic fluid.

Sources:

United Soybean Board. (2016). Soybean Uses and Overview. SoyConnection. 

Gmo-Compass. (2010). USA: New GM soybean with higher oleic acid content approved. Gmo-Compass.org. 

Schwartz, A. (2014). A GMO Soybean, Engineered To Improve Your Health. Fastcoexist.