Engineering microbes to degrade oil spills and hydrocarbon contaminants in soil and water

Abstract

CRISPR/Cas technology holds immense potential for genetic engineering to obtain microorganisms with desired traits in the microbial world. Microbes can be engineered to degrade oil spills and hydrocarbon contaminants. Using CRISPR/Cas, it is possible to introduce genes responsible for degrading specific hydrocarbons. Engineered hydrocarbon-degrading microbes offer massive potential for environmental cleanup while their deployment requires considering potential ecological impacts, ethical consideration, and regulation. It is necessary to update policies for releasing GMOs into environment.