The products of chemical industry (plastics, resin, etc.) are produced from non-renewable natural resources and therefore heavily pollute the environment. For this reason they should be superseded with biodegradable and biocompatible biopolymers having plastic-like properties such as cellulose and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB). We have performed this study to reveal whether it is possible to construct bacteria synthesizing these two biopolymers simultaneously. Applying methods of molecular biology, we have transferred genes originated from bacteria Ralstonia eutropha responsible for PHB biosynthesis to the bacteria producing cellulose and succeeded in creating bacteria producing both biopolymers simultaneously.

Scientific field

Biology

Country

Lithuania

Contestants

Modestas Gudauskas