2 ms·

Not a given. If you introduce this gene into the ocean You’ve essentially introduced this into the horizontal gene transfer gene pool. This is how microbes evol

Not a given. If you introduce this gene into the ocean You’ve essentially introduced this into the horizontal gene transfer gene pool. This is how microbes evolve for the most part. If this enzyme confers even the slightest advantage some microbes will start using it. I really don’t see what the problem is though, we introduced a substance other organisms can’t digest and now we are introducing tools they can use to restore the balance.

Zenbit_UX 4y ago
The fact that you don't see the problem _is_ the problem. Fucking with ecosystems using bar napkin math is not a thing we should entertain.
- wongarsu 4y ago
  We are already fucking with ecosystems with all the plastic fishing nets we are dumping in the ocean, and the microplastics that are everywhere. Obviously we shouldn't execute plans without a solid analysis, but entertaining ideas that resolve the problems we create is the first step.
- ramraj07 4y ago
  You’re fucking with the ecosystem by existing. We all do. In the end we can only make a best guess estimate of what the effects of our action can be. What’s clear is inaction isn’t an option.
- rswail 4y ago
  I think though that the fact is that these biomes are evolving already means that irrespective of this research or its development, natural evolution is already responding. If we stopped polluting tomorrow, which I wish we could, we would still need to get rid of the pollution already produced. If the natural biome is already responding, then that's a good thing.
ABCLAW 4y ago
Not really. The horizontal gene transfer pool is local - you'll find microsystems where the plasmid or gene segment is present, but unless the gene itself provides some fitness benefit to the host, it will be outcompeted in general. You'd expect a tiny reservoir of the gene to remain in circulation in heavily plastic polluted areas with low nutrient density, but you wouldn't expect the gene to represent a gain of function phenotypic change to the general microbe population. When these hybrids are initially created, they'd likely be created via transfected plasmids that produce a ton of the enzyme - the fitness downside for a bacteria to produce a non-mutated version of the plasmid would be phenomenally large. In the same way that we can create little insulin factory bacteria, our little plastic enzyme bacteria are not going to turn the world into grey goo; they're literally parasitized and weaker than wildtype at existing in the wild. If they weren't, they'd be the wildtype.

Zenbit_UX 4y ago

The fact that you don't see the problem _is_ the problem. Fucking with ecosystems using bar napkin math is not a thing we should entertain.

wongarsu 4y ago
We are already fucking with ecosystems with all the plastic fishing nets we are dumping in the ocean, and the microplastics that are everywhere. Obviously we shouldn't execute plans without a solid analysis, but entertaining ideas that resolve the problems we create is the first step.
ramraj07 4y ago
You’re fucking with the ecosystem by existing. We all do. In the end we can only make a best guess estimate of what the effects of our action can be. What’s clear is inaction isn’t an option.
rswail 4y ago
I think though that the fact is that these biomes are evolving already means that irrespective of this research or its development, natural evolution is already responding. If we stopped polluting tomorrow, which I wish we could, we would still need to get rid of the pollution already produced. If the natural biome is already responding, then that's a good thing.

ABCLAW 4y ago

Not really. The horizontal gene transfer pool is local - you'll find microsystems where the plasmid or gene segment is present, but unless the gene itself provides some fitness benefit to the host, it will be outcompeted in general. You'd expect a tiny reservoir of the gene to remain in circulation in heavily plastic polluted areas with low nutrient density, but you wouldn't expect the gene to represent a gain of function phenotypic change to the general microbe population. When these hybrids are initially created, they'd likely be created via transfected plasmids that produce a ton of the enzyme - the fitness downside for a bacteria to produce a non-mutated version of the plasmid would be phenomenally large. In the same way that we can create little insulin factory bacteria, our little plastic enzyme bacteria are not going to turn the world into grey goo; they're literally parasitized and weaker than wildtype at existing in the wild. If they weren't, they'd be the wildtype.