Harnessing Genetic Engineering for Environmental Clean-up: A Review

Abstract

Environmental pollution caused by industrialization and urbanization poses significant risks to living organisms. Environmental pollutants, including microscopic particles, volatile organic compounds, and heavy metals, are recognized as catalysts for respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses in humans. The existing treatment methods available for addressing such environmental concerns include physical and chemical methods. However, chemical and physical remediation methods have limitations such as inefficiency and equipment, high costs, and the risk of introducing additional environmental pollution. In contrast, biological remediation is a more efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solution. Bioremediation employs plants and microorganisms to transform pollutants; however, this capacity does not give them the final advantage of cleaning pollutants completely. This paper examined the advantages of using genetically modified microorganisms as an economical and eco-friendly solutions to mitigate the negative effects of heavy metal pollution, which can have detrimental consequences on human well-being and the natural environment. This paper further explored the bioremediation mechanisms, including enzymatic oxidation, enzymatic reduction, biosorption, complexation, bioaccumulation, and precipitation. These mechanisms involve various microorganisms, such as algae, bacteria, and fungi, which aid in the mitigation of heavy metal pollution. The paper also discusses the use of metabolic and genetic engineering in bioremediation to enhance the degradation capabilities of microorganisms and improve the bioremediation process. The use of genetically modified microbes for degradation of synthetic pollutants has been highlighted. In conclusion, this paper emphasizes the need for continued research on high-throughput microbial technologies and metagenomics to advance the field of bioremediation and develop effective strategies for pollution mitigation.