From the “swallowed-a-spider-to-catch-a-fly” department comes this report in Wired magazine that scientists are working on engineering bacteria that eat oil. Bacteria that eat oil are already around, and they reproduce and clog filters in diesel engines that are not used regularly, such as tractors. Scientists now wish to supercharge some oil-eating bacteria to combat oil spills.
In one of the classics of science fiction, Ringworld (universally panned by critics), author Larry Niven explores the future history of a society that was destroyed by the introduction of a plastic eating bacteria that literally pulled the plastic carpet out from under the civilization. Imagine the effects on modern civilization if plastics suddenly started to deteriorate like food. It would be good for all those presently non-biodegradable plastics out there at least, but not so good for the day to day functioning of the economy.
Plastics are made from petrochemicals derived from crude oil. Obviously the scientists want bacteria that eats oil and not plastics. However, nature is very resilient, as evidenced in this article in Wired magazine. After only four years of intensive aerial spraying of coca crops in Colombia using Monsanto’s “Roundup” herbicide, a naturally Roundup-resistant strain of coca has appeared, helped along by selective breeding by farmers.
Of course it could all turn out for the best, although in a chaotic system even a small change has profound implications.
“Swallow the spider to catch the fly”… and then?
