Name: _______________________________ Date: _____________ Period:_________

Unit 3 “Genetics” Checkpoint 1 Assignment

So far in this unit you have read one case study on the development of biofuels using genetically modified
bacteria. You will answer the following question below using the C-E-R (Claim Evidence Reasoning) format.

Identify what you believe is the most significant drawback/cost associated with this method for
production of biofuels.

Start with the information provided in the textbook about genetic modification of bacteria for biofuel production
and increase your understanding and finding details with at least three reliable sources. You will upload your
finished work to the turnitin.com assignment to check your similarity score as well as to the Canvas
assignment.

Claim:
- Should identify the most significant drawback to using GM bacteria for the production of biofuels and list the
evidence you will use to support your statement.

The most significant benefit of using genetically modified bacteria to produce biofuel is it is efficient because
the bacteria are able to use cellulose, multiple forms of biofuel can be created, and it is a renewable source
of energy.

Evidence:
- At least three supporting pieces of evidence.
- Cite your sources using APA format within the text.
- Connect your evidence to your claim with some explanation.

1. Originally, biofuels came exclusively from edible plant matter such as corn. However, this challenged
the food source for farmers because they would have to dedicate crops for biofuel production
(SEPUP, 2011). The solution to this is to be able to use non-food source biomass, such as the stalks
of plants. This is difficult though because these non-food source materials contain mainly cellulose, a
substance that is challenging for the e. Coli bacteria to get through (SEPUP, 2011). Currently though,
scientists have been able to further genetically modify the bacteria to produce enzymes that can
break through the cellulose and allow the bacteria to get to the sugars in the plant biomass. (Gao et.
al.,2015). Furthermore, plant biomass contains glucose and xylose, the ingredients that the bacteria
will use to create biofuel. Although, e. Coli cannot use xylose when in the presence of glucose,
meaning that some of the potential energy is lost. Scientists are correcting this by creating colonies
that use xylose and glucose simultaneously. This creates a 50% increase in production after 4 days
of fermentation (Caspermeyer, 2017).
2. Moreover, biofuels are now able to create a multitude of fuel sources including ethanol, diesel, and
gasoline (SEPUP, 2011; Chillrud, 2016). All of these biofuels can be used as substitutes for the
corresponding fossil fuels in engines and other fuel-consuming devices (Koppolu and Vasigala,
2016). Because of this, it is much more efficient to use biofuels over fossil fuels. Because of the wide
range of biofuels, they are applicable in many situations, and over 6.4 billion gallons of biofuel were
created in 2007 alone (Koppolu and Vasigala, 2016). Additionally, the fossil fuel that the United
States uses the most, gasoline, is able to be produced and is much better for the environment.
Initially, only ethanol and diesel was able to be produced because they are made from longer chains
of hydrocarbons. Gasoline on the other hand is made from shorter chains of hydrocarbons. However,
 scientists have been able to get bacteria to produce gasoline directly from the plant matter (Foley,
2013). This new gasoline is also better for the environment, as it produces 101% to 115% less
carbon emissions compared to standard gasoline (Chillrud, 2016).
3. Finally, biofuel is a renewable resource. The ingredients needed to create biofuels, mainly plant
matter, are easily grown everywhere, and inedible plant matter is also usable, meaning the food
source will not be threatened. These sources are abundant and will continuously be available to for
biofuel production (Rinkesh, n.d.). Corn for example takes 60 to 100 days to harvest (Albert, n.d.).
Fossil fuels on the other hand can take millions of years to form. In addition, e. Coli and other
bacteria are also easily accessible, being everywhere, and can reproduce rapidly (Koppolu and
Vasigala, 2016).

Reasoning:
-Using appropriate vocabulary, connect your evidence to your understanding of the process of creating a
genetically modified bacteria and how genetic modification leads to a change in phenotype for a population of
bacteria.
-Cite your sources using APA format within the text.
1. Even though there have been numerous obstacles presented in sources for creating biofuel using
bacteria, solutions have been presented to solve them. By being able to use cellulose instead of
strictly food-sources, the production of biofuels from bacteria is very efficient. Much of the non-food
source plant biomass such as plant stalks would be wasted because they cannot be eaten; by being
able to use this plant matter for biofuel the process is much more efficient because this does not
encroach on food-sources for humans, and no additional land would be needed for the production of
biofuel. Because the genetics of e. Coli are so well understood, further advances in using cellulose-
based plant matter would allow e. Coli to eventually be very efficient in breaking down cellulose-
based plant matter to create biofuels (Gao et. al., 2015). One such advance is using genes from
termites that create enzymes to break down wood (SEPUP, 2011). This would allow the bacteria to
be very efficient in breaking down cellulose to create biofuels. In addition, by using all of the sugars in
the biomass, the production of biofuel is even more efficient because no resources are wasted.
2. By being able to create a multitude of different biofuels that are all usable, the production of biofuel
from bacteria is efficient because it is better environmentally than standard fossil fuels, and is easily
accessible. Biofuel can be made from biomass, making it easily accessible. This very different than
fossil fuels in that one does not have to use invasive methods such as fracking that puts pollutants
into the ecosystem. Because biofuel can take the place of conventional fossil fuel, and the methods
of acquiring them are far superior for the environment because less pollutants and carbon are going
into the atmosphere, it is much more efficient.
3. Because biofuels are renewable and easily accessible, they are efficient. The necessary ingredients
for creating biofuel are found everywhere, and do not threaten the food source for humans, they are
cheap to use and not harmful to the environment. This makes them efficient to use because they do
not harm the environment and are easy to find and use. Again, corn takes 60 to 100 days to reach
harvest (Albert, n.d.). This means that biofuel can be made everytime a crop of corn is ready for
harvest because the stalks and some corn itself are used to create the biofuel. Fossil fuels on the
other hand take millions of years to produce. This makes fossil fuels not renewable. Additionally, the
bacteria needed to create biofuels are also very common and well understood (Gao et. al., 2015).
This makes it efficient to harvest and modify these bacteria. Fossil fuels are also difficult to procure
as invasive methods such as fracking need to take place to acquire them, making them not efficient
to use. Furthermore, fossil fuels are harmful for the environment, releasing copious amounts of
carbon in to the air, lowering air quality, making it not efficient to use. Biofuels on the other hand are
far superior to fossil fuels when it comes to carbon that is let into the environment, as biofuels release
101% to 115% less carbon into the atmosphere when used (Chillrud, 2016). This makes it more
efficient because it has less of an impact on the environment.
References:
- Full APA citations in proper format.
- For help with APA citation go to Purdue OWL: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/2/10/

References

Albert, S. (n.d.). How to Grow Corn. Retrieved March 19, 2018, from Harvest to Table website:

https://harvesttotable.com/how_to_grow_sweet_corn/

Caspermeyer, J. (Ed.). (2017, June 30). Solving a sweet problem for renewable biofuels and

chemicals. Retrieved March 19, 2018, from Arizona State University website:

https://asunow.asu.edu/20170630-discoveries-asu-scientists-breakthrough-biofuels-evolution

Chillrud, R. (2016, September 2). Biofuels versus Gasoline: The Emissions Gap Is Widening.

Retrieved March 19, 2018, from Environmental and Energy Study Institute website:

http://www.eesi.org/articles/view/biofuels-versus-gasoline-the-emissions-gap-is-widening

Foley, J. A. (2013, September 30). E. Coli Bacteria Used to Create Gasoline. Retrieved March 19,

2018, from Nature World News website: http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/4237/20130930/e-

coli-bacteria-used-create-gasoline.htm

Gao, D., Luan, Y., Wang, Q., Liang, Q., & Qi, Q. (2015). Construction of cellulose-utilizing

Escherichia coli based on a secretable cellulase. Microbial Cell Factories, 14, 159.

http://doi.org/10.1186/s12934-015-0349-7

Koppolu, V., & Vasigala, V. K. (2016). Role of Escherichia coli in Biofuel Production. Microbiology

Insights, 9, 29–35. http://doi.org/10.4137/MBI.S10878

Rinkesh. (n.d.). What are Biofuels? Retrieved March 19, 2018, from Conserve Energy Future website:

https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-biofuels.php

SEPUP. (2011). Science and Global Issues Ecology: Living on Earth. Lawrence Hall of Science,

University of California Berkely. Published by Lab-Aids, Inc., Ronkonkomo NYIn text you would use

(SEPUP, 2011).