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Revision as of 20:41, 25 June 2018
Our Project
TCDD is counted among the most toxic pollutants known to man. Lethal in very small doses, it can cause an array of symptoms from skin lesions to cancer and even severe birth defects. This extremely stable compound is a byproduct of industrial processes as well as conventional warfare, polluting sites for decades after initial exposure. As of yet, there is no economically viable solution to the problem of TCDD pollution. TCDD creates serious health and environmental concerns across the globe. TCDD is entirely synthetic, and as such, we believe the solution must be engineered by humans as well.
After studying the partial degradation pathways that exist for TCDD in several microorganisms, we identified a small number of enzymes capable of breaking down the toxin, its byproducts, and other molecules from the same family of toxic chemicals (dioxins). Our idea was to combine these enzymes into a single organism to create a novel metabolic pathway that can degrade TCDD into harmless metabolites.
We are proposing an affordable, ecological, and versatile solution to TCDD pollution which can be implemented throughout the world. Using techniques from the field of synthetic biology, we are currently engineering organisms that can remediate TCDD in a manner that is both eco-friendly, and economically sound.
Our hope is that these organisms will one day help detoxify our planet, making it a safer and cleaner environment for everyone.