Evolution at Work

[JLW]

Microbes in oceans and soils across the globe are evolving to eat plastic, according to a study.

The research scanned more than 200m genes found in DNA samples taken from the environment and found 30,000 different enzymes that could degrade 10 different types of plastic.

The study is the first large-scale global assessment of the plastic-degrading potential of bacteria and found that one in four of the organisms analysed carried a suitable enzyme. The researchers found that the number and type of enzymes they discovered matched the amount and type of plastic pollution in different locations.

The results “provide evidence of a measurable effect of plastic pollution on the global microbial ecology”, the scientists said.

Bugs Across Globe Are Evolving to Eat Plastic, Study Finds

Surprising discovery shows scale of plastic pollution and reveals enzymes that could boost recycling.

getpocket.com

If the human race won't clean up its trash, apparently nature will step in.

Of course, this says nothing about the effects of microplastics on the human body which we are only beginning to understand.

 

[Donald H]

Microbes in oceans and soils across the globe are evolving to eat plastic, according to a study.

The research scanned more than 200m genes found in DNA samples taken from the environment and found 30,000 different enzymes that could degrade 10 different types of plastic.

The study is the first large-scale global assessment of the plastic-degrading potential of bacteria and found that one in four of the organisms analysed carried a suitable enzyme. The researchers found that the number and type of enzymes they discovered matched the amount and type of plastic pollution in different locations.

The results “provide evidence of a measurable effect of plastic pollution on the global microbial ecology”, the scientists said.

Bugs Across Globe Are Evolving to Eat Plastic, Study Finds

Surprising discovery shows scale of plastic pollution and reveals enzymes that could boost recycling.

getpocket.com

If the human race won't clean up its trash, apparently nature will step in.

Of course, this says nothing about the effects of microplastics on the human body which we are only beginning to understand.

Richard Dawkins will be aware of this happening and very pleased at the verification of his theories in 'The Selfish Gene'!

But now let's be prepared to hear how the 'god' gets the credit!

 

[okfine]

Microbes in oceans and soils across the globe are evolving to eat plastic, according to a study.

The research scanned more than 200m genes found in DNA samples taken from the environment and found 30,000 different enzymes that could degrade 10 different types of plastic.

The study is the first large-scale global assessment of the plastic-degrading potential of bacteria and found that one in four of the organisms analysed carried a suitable enzyme. The researchers found that the number and type of enzymes they discovered matched the amount and type of plastic pollution in different locations.

The results “provide evidence of a measurable effect of plastic pollution on the global microbial ecology”, the scientists said.

Bugs Across Globe Are Evolving to Eat Plastic, Study Finds

Surprising discovery shows scale of plastic pollution and reveals enzymes that could boost recycling.

getpocket.com

If the human race won't clean up its trash, apparently nature will step in.

Of course, this says nothing about microplastics on the human body which we are only beginning to understand.

That is a good old Mother Earth. She has a way with repairing herself. Maybe you heard that scientists in the UK have exposed the existence of plastic in human blood? Now, that seems to be something that could have irreparable damage.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Microbes in oceans and soils across the globe are evolving to eat plastic, according to a study.

The research scanned more than 200m genes found in DNA samples taken from the environment and found 30,000 different enzymes that could degrade 10 different types of plastic.

The study is the first large-scale global assessment of the plastic-degrading potential of bacteria and found that one in four of the organisms analysed carried a suitable enzyme. The researchers found that the number and type of enzymes they discovered matched the amount and type of plastic pollution in different locations.

The results “provide evidence of a measurable effect of plastic pollution on the global microbial ecology”, the scientists said.

Bugs Across Globe Are Evolving to Eat Plastic, Study Finds

Surprising discovery shows scale of plastic pollution and reveals enzymes that could boost recycling.

getpocket.com

If the human race won't clean up its trash, apparently nature will step in.

Of course, this says nothing about the effects of microplastics on the human body which we are only beginning to understand.

Andromeda Strain

 

[ReinyDays]

Of course ... reduced carbon is a precious research in nature ... plenty of bacteria have already evolved to digest crude oil ... so why not plastics as well ...

 

[ding]

Mother Nature is very effective at cleaning up hydrocarbons.

Man... not so much.

 

[ReinyDays]

Mother Nature is very effective at cleaning up hydrocarbons.

Man... not so much.

The cleanest beaches along Prince William Sound are the ones that only fertilizer was applied ... the mechanical scrubbing on the other beaches didn't work as well cleaning up the spilled oil ... roughly half the crude oil spilled into the ocean is from natural seepage ... so bacteria abound that will consume the oil making DNA out of it ...

Or we can burn the oil and let plants make DNA out of the carbon dioxide ... your willow tree will thank you ...

 

[ding]

The cleanest beaches along Prince William Sound are the ones that only fertilizer was applied ... the mechanical scrubbing on the other beaches didn't work as well cleaning up the spilled oil ... roughly half the crude oil spilled into the ocean is from natural seepage ... so bacteria abound that will consume the oil making DNA out of it ...

Or we can burn the oil and let plants make DNA out of the carbon dioxide ... your willow tree will thank you ...

Exxon Valdez... the places men cleaned are scarred. The places men couldn't get to to clean are pristine. Don't F... with mother nature.

 

[Crick]

Microbes in oceans and soils across the globe are evolving to eat plastic, according to a study.

The research scanned more than 200m genes found in DNA samples taken from the environment and found 30,000 different enzymes that could degrade 10 different types of plastic.

The study is the first large-scale global assessment of the plastic-degrading potential of bacteria and found that one in four of the organisms analysed carried a suitable enzyme. The researchers found that the number and type of enzymes they discovered matched the amount and type of plastic pollution in different locations.

The results “provide evidence of a measurable effect of plastic pollution on the global microbial ecology”, the scientists said.

Bugs Across Globe Are Evolving to Eat Plastic, Study Finds

Surprising discovery shows scale of plastic pollution and reveals enzymes that could boost recycling.

getpocket.com

If the human race won't clean up its trash, apparently nature will step in.

Of course, this says nothing about the effects of microplastics on the human body which we are only beginning to understand.

Humans will evolve to digest plastics as well.

 

[ding]

Humans will evolve to digest plastics as well.

It's magically delicious.

 

[Crick]

Humans will evolve to digest plastics as well.

And, at least for a while, to survive increasing CO2 levels.

 

[ding]

And, at least for a while, to survive increasing CO2 levels.

You do realize that CO2 is a vital component of the carbon cycle, right?