Introduction

Environmental

biotechnology is the
solving of
environmental
problems through
the application of
biotechnology.

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).

1) Molecular Ecology
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
(horses and whales currently).

1) Molecular Ecology

Reading a DNA fingerprint

Biofuel exaggeration

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 of, waste.
Plants are also being
tested in some areas to
do this job (Sunflowers
at Chernobyl removed
Cesium and Strontium).

2) Bioremediation
In North America,

bioremediation has been

used to clean up Canadas
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.

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).

3) Biosensors
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.

4) Biofuels
The current project of many

biofuel scientists is aptly

nicknamed A Journey to
Forever, creating a selfsustaining 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.

Homework
1) Define the following terms: environmental

biotechnology, biofuel, biofuel cell,

bioremediation, biosensor
2) What positive impacts do you feel
environmental biotechnology will have on
the Canadian environment? Explain.