Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Cells, Microbes & Viruses => Topic started by: thedoc on 17/04/2015 18:50:03

Title: Can plankton be genetically modified to clean up the sea of tiny plastic particles in the ocean?
Post by: thedoc on 17/04/2015 18:50:03

Simon Emmott asked the Naked Scientists:
   Can plankton be genetically modified to consume and clean up the sea of tiny plastic particles in the ocean?

What do you think?

Title: Re: Can plankton be genetically modified to clean up the sea of tiny plastic particles in the ocean?
Post by: alancalverd on 20/04/2015 12:40:27

Fabulous idea, right up to the moment when you sail your rust- and rot-proof plastic yacht into a cloud of hungry plankton!   

Title: Re: Can plankton be genetically modified to clean up the sea of tiny plastic particles in the ocean?
Post by: chris on 20/04/2015 16:56:57

So what you could do is have protective coatings for hulls made from plastic...

Title: Re: Can plankton be genetically modified to clean up the sea of tiny plastic particles in the ocean?
Post by: alancalverd on 21/04/2015 09:30:48

Hmm. The protective stuff we put on wooden boats is already upsetting the green lobby. Anything that would kill an epoxy-eating bug will certainly ruin a turtle's digestion.

And what will the effect be on a whale who swallows a ton of plastiphages for breakfast?