Mutant Enzyme Accidentally Created by Scientists to Eat Plastic Bottles

So, here's the scoop. In 2016 at a Japanese waste dump, scientists discovered a bacterium created by a local bug, which has naturally evolved to eat plastics. The crucial enzyme produced by the bug is currently foreseen to help fight pollution. The pollution epidemic in Japan is ongoing and very serious. However, this innovation could drastically help solve our worldwide pollution problem.

Word got out to the international team who then modified the enzyme to further understand exactly how the enzyme evolved, but the tests only proved that the team unintentionally made the molecule better at breaking down the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic. This chemical compound is used for making the popular soft drink bottles we commonly drink out of.

Statistics show that approximately one million plastic bottles are sold every minute across the globe, yet a shockingly 14% being recycled after use. These bottles oftentimes end up in our oceans, harming marine life and even those that consume seafood.

The new, modified enzyme indicates the ability to recycle clear plastic bottles back into other clear plastic bottles. This will ultimately reduce the need to manufacture new plastic, and will immensely lower the waste in our oceans. "Enzymes are non-toxic, biodegradable and can be produced in large amounts by microorganisms," said Oliver Jones, a chemist at RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia. Another goal these scientists are focusing on is the possibility of spreading the bug across ocean waste, specifically the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, to break down and clean up our oceans.

You can read this interesting article here.

Thanks for reading and stay tuned!

McKenzie T.