Genetically Engineered Organisms Brochure
Due: November 24th by 5:00pm
Answer the questions below using the following websites (additional research may be
required).
o Environment and Nature News. (n.d.) Toxin-munching plants a step
closer. Retrieved March 15, 2006 from
http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/enviro/EnviroRepublish_921973.
htm
o United States Department of Agriculture. (n.d.) Using superplants to clean
up our environment. Retrieved March 15, 2006 from
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/jun00/form0600.htm
1. How does phyto-engineering or phytoremediation harvest heavy metals from
soil?
Phytoremediation is the use of green plants to remove pollutants from
the environment or render them harmless. They detoxify heavy
metals. Plants "vacuum" heavy metals from the soil through their roots
2. What is meant by phytoextraction? What is an added benefit of this process?
It detoxifies heavy metals. This process is practical and relatively cost-effective
alternative
3. What are some environmental problems caused by heavy metals?
Groundwater and soil contamination, Concerns about bone defects, increased
blood pressure, kidney damage and lung cancer have also been raised,
depending on the type of substance involved.
4. What human activities have resulted in the collection of heavy metals in soil?
Two of the biggest causes of soil pollution are enhanced agricultural
techniques and mishandling of dangerous chemicals by industry.
Others are dumping of hazardous waste by citizens is, and nuclear
fallout, which can render soil extremely dangerous.
5. What are some global impacts of these environmental problems?
Contamination in water leading to death or poison, global warming
6. What are some of the current high tech solutions to the environmental problems
you stated?
Recent innovations have led to industry-specific treatment
technologies that now allow operations to remove toxins to produce
clean water that will meet legislated quality standards, as well as turn
their wastewater streams into a revenue-generating commodity. This
sustainable approach to water treatment is gaining ground with a
number of mine sites around the world, including sites owned by
Jiangxi Copper Co. Ltd., China’s largest copper producer.
In the joint venture with Jiangxi Copper Co., BioteQ is responsible for
providing half of the capital investment to build the plants and is the
operator of the water treatment plants.
7. What are the human impacts associated with phyto-engineering and how do
those human impacts relate to biotechnical engineering?
-The use of plants to reduce or solve pollution problems that otherwise
would be more harmful to other ecosystems. An example is the use of
wetlands for wastewater treatment.
-The replication of ecosystems and plant communities to reduce or
solve a pollution problem. Examples are constructed ecosystems such
as ponds and wetlands for treatment of wastewater or diffuse pollution
sources.
-The use of plants to facilitate the recovery of ecosystems after
significant disturbances. Examples are coal mine reclamation and the
restoration of lakes and rivers.
-The increased use of plants as sinks for carbon dioxide to mitigate the
impacts of climate change. Examples of this are reforestation and
afforestation.
-The use of plants to augment the natural capacity of urban areas to
mitigate pollution impacts and moderate energy extremes. An example
is the use of rooftop vegetation, or “greenroofs”.
(This relates to the engineering because the engineering is used in
order to provide an efficient lifestyle by getting rid of all of the
unwanted materials in our society. They are designed to do this
making human lives easier as well as healthier).
Answer the questions below using the following websites (additional research
may be required).

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/04/110405-nsf-oilsomasundaran-video/

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2010/08/study-oil-eatingmicrobes-plentiful-in-gulf-oil-spill.html
1. What is bioremediation and what role do engineers play in the process of
bioremediation?
Process that uses microorganisms or their enzymes to return the
environment altered by contaminants to its original condition…For an
example, the oil-eating bacteria helped break down the oil in the Gulf
of Mexico. Engineers can design ways for scientist to distinguish what
bacteria can help eliminate or restore the area back to normal. The
can make these devices to then apply the bacteria to the designated
area for usage. They can design the organisms so that they will be
easy to eliminate from the environment once they have served their
purpose
2. Explain how the following engineers work together during the bioremediation
process: chemical engineers, environmental engineers, genetic engineers, and
civil engineers.
3. What impact does bioremediation play on the environment and society as a
whole?
It cleans up all the unwanted impurities in our society. It cleans up
areas that would normally be impossible to clean. It doesn’t make a
problem and the organisms used are often self-contained, dying out
once the task has been accomplished.
Answer the questions below using the following websites (additional research may be
required).

http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php

http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/gmfood.shtml
1. What is genetically modified/engineered food?
Crop plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest
molecular biology techniques
2. What are some potential benefits to these types of foods?
Desired traits can be added (enhancing frowth), they can be grown in
different climates, can help in famine, good in medications, tolerant and
resistant to specific things.
3. What are some potential concerns to these types of foods?
Is it ethical or not?
No regulations
Environmental hazards
Health risks
Economic concerns
Animal testing
4. What are some medical ideas researchers have for these foods?
With the help of gmo’s scientist can create vaccines… They can also alter genes in
animal like goats in order to produce needed medicines within their milk.
Using the information you have collected design a brochure to display the information to
any common individual. This brochure is best created using the brochure template in
Microsoft Publisher. Your brochure should include the following:
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_____ Information on phytoremediation (15 pts)
_____ Information on bioremediation (15 pts)
_____ Information on GMOs (15 pts)
_____ Information on a GMO you will create (15 pts)
o Get creative here and include design, potential uses, and benefits of
your product
_____ Pictures that help to explain your information(10 pts)
_____ Creativity and aesthetics (10 pts)
_____ All questions from above answered and posted on weebly (20 pts)
*** This is due by 5:00pm on November 24th (that
is the Sunday before we return to school).***