Microbes are incredible little beings, they can do just about anything you can name. They help aid your body's functions, help make food we need to survive, and even help us when we are sick. Just recently, we've found that not only do they help us with all of that, but they help us clean things up. Oil spills and gas leaks happen in today's world, it's a sad but true fact. However, there is a strain of bacteria called
Methylocella silvestris that can help us do just that. This bacteria is found in the wild soils of Northern Europe, it thrives in peat, tundra and forest type soils. This particular little bacteria can grow on methane and propane found in these gasses, from them on the microbe can consume it and turn it into energy. This bacteria can possibly help stop global warming and the release of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. Natural gas is good for the environment, but to an extent. "Molecule-for-molecule, the effect of methane on global warming is more than 20 times greater than carbon dioxide over a 100 year timeframe. It is therefore very important that we understand how it can be removed biologically in the environment before it is released into the atmosphere." Says Dr. Colin Murrell. Only time will tell what this little guy can do for us and the environment, hopefully good can come from eating away these gasses.
The article has a lot of information that was useful for this topic, it really covered everything that I needed to know to write this blog post. It gave unbiased information throughout and was really helpful and interesting to read.
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I just commented on an article that was about a microbe that could possibly aid in environmental remediation and now I’m reading about a microbe that can help clean up gas leaks! Microbes are truly something else! When I read this blog it kind of reminded me of another microbe, Deinococcus radiodurans. The main difference is that D. radiodurans may actually help in the “cleanup” of radiation. I’m sure there processes are definitely different but in the end, kind of similar; in there aid! I like how this blog incorporated how Methylocella silvestris actually does its “aid.” Only one question comes to mind after reading this article; how long does it take for this microbe to “consume” the methane and propane (gasses)? It’s amazing that these microbes can be so little but do so much for the environment and us! Hopefully, good does come from eating away these gases! Like you said, only time will tell!
ReplyDelete-Angelo V.
Truly Amazing. Before taking this class I never thought that microbes had such an impact in our world, but like you said,"They help aid your body's functions, help make food we need to survive, and even help us when we are sick." On top of that they also help global warming! This guys are mother natures' maintenance crew. While we humans are destroying the world; they are trying to fix. Like you also said we would like to live in a accident free world, but accidents do happen and unfortunately when they happen they are usually devestating. Perhaps we should take advantage of the potential of this microbes and use them to benefit the ecosystem.
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