Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 21, 2026
04:00
Author Spotlight: Assessing the Olfactory Effects of Airborne Pollutants — Buried Food and Social Odor Tests
Published on: September 13, 2024
1.3K
Environmental Aspects of Biotechnology
Aranya Venkatesh1, I Daniel Posen2, Heather L MacLean3,4
1KeyLogic Systems, Inc., Morgantown, WV, USA.
Advances in Biochemical Engineering/Biotechnology
|August 10, 2019
Summary
Industrial biotechnology aims to reduce environmental harm, but assessing its impacts is complex. This study examines key environmental issues in biobased feedstocks and biologically supported industrial processes.
Area of Science:
- Industrial biotechnology
- Environmental science
- Life cycle assessment
Background:
- Industrial biotechnology offers environmental benefits but assessing its true impact is challenging.
- Environmental impacts span resource depletion, water use, climate change, and land transformation.
- Accurate assessment requires considering factors like feedstock, process type, and geographic scope.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight key environmental issues in industrial biotechnology.
- To analyze impacts related to biobased feedstocks and biologically supported processes.
- To discuss challenges in environmental impact accounting.
Main Methods:
- Review of environmental issues in industrial biotechnology.
- Analysis of case studies: lignocellulosic ethanol, biobased plastics, enzyme use.
- Discussion of accounting complexities: scope, co-products, uncertainty.
Main Results:
- Biobased feedstocks and biologically supported processes present distinct environmental challenges.
- Lignocellulosic ethanol, biobased plastics, and enzyme use illustrate specific impact areas.
- Geographic scope, co-product management, and uncertainty complicate impact assessments.
Conclusions:
- A comprehensive understanding of industrial biotechnology's environmental footprint is crucial.
- Addressing assessment complexities is necessary for sustainable development.
- Emerging trends in environmental impact assessment require further investigation.
Related Concept Videos
01:59Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
21.5K
Crop cultivation has a long history in human civilization, with records showing the cultivation of cereal plants beginning at around 8000 BC. This early plant breeding was developed primarily to provide a steady supply of food.
21.5K
01:30Quantitative Aspects of Drug-Receptor Interaction
1.7K
The receptor occupancy theory connects a drug's response to the number of occupied receptors. With higher drug concentrations, more receptors are occupied, leading to increased responses. The formation of drug-receptor complexes involves association and dissociation rates, which reach equilibrium when the forward and backward reactions are equal. The equilibrium association constant (Ka) and its inverse, the equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd), indicate drug affinity. Higher Ka and lower...
1.7K
01:30Environmental Applications of Microorganisms
1.0K
Microorganisms play a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem balance by recycling essential elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as supporting processes like bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and biofuel production.Microbes in Elemental CyclesIn the carbon cycle, microorganisms decompose organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide via aerobic respiration. This carbon dioxide is subsequently used by photosynthetic organisms to synthesize organic compounds, closing the...
1.0K
01:29Environmental Influences on Intelligence
903
Despite the strong genetic influence on traits like intelligence, environmental factors significantly shape outcomes. For example, while over 90% of height variation is due to genetic differences, environmental factors such as nutrition also have a notable impact. Similarly, for intelligence, changes in a child's surroundings can significantly alter their IQ. Research shows that enriched environments boost children's academic success and help them develop key cognitive skills. Children...
903
01:28Causes of Social Behavior III: Biological and Environmental Influences
240
Social behavior is a complex phenomenon that arises from the interaction between biological predispositions and environmental influences. This intricate interplay shapes how individuals think, feel, and act in various social contexts. Understanding these mechanisms requires insights from psychology, neuroscience, genetics, and evolutionary theory.Environmental Influences on Social BehaviorEnvironmental factors, including temperature, odors, and visual stimuli, play a crucial role in shaping...
240
01:34DNA Isolation
199.1K
DNA from cells is required for many biotechnology and research applications, such as molecular cloning. To remove and purify DNA from cells, researchers use various methods of DNA extraction. While the specifics of different protocols may vary, some general concepts underlie the process of DNA extraction.
199.1K