Check Your Bioprivilege
We’ve all
heard that some people are considered to be privileged by means of their age,
sex, race, economic status, or whatever.
But what about molecules? Are
there some that are more privileged than others?
Researchers
at the National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center for Biorenewable
Chemicals (CBiRC) at Iowa State University have coined the term ‘bioprivileged’
for molecular intermediates that are made by plants and animals that are not
conveniently made by industrial processes.
These privileged molecules offer “unique properties that could lead to
new products.”
The range of
chemical intermediates that can be derived from petroleum has been developed
for more than a century, and there are few new avenues for discovery. However, the universe of molecules that can
be obtained from living systems is much greater – there are many more different
types of molecules in a typical plant than are produced in all of the chemical
industry – and can “greatly expand the bioproduct horizon beyond the scope of
petrochemicals.”
Modern genetic
engineering is expanding this universe and is able to selectively design plants
to produce specific valuable products.
Among the targets that can be produced are the next-generation pharmaceuticals,
nutraceuticals, antimicrobials, insecticides, herbicides, consumer goods, and
specialty chemicals. At CBiRC they have
already made plant-derived nylon.
So, in
addition to checking your privilege, check out the wonders that are happening
at CBiRC or at a laboratory near you.
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For help with the bioeconomy, contact Lee
Enterprises Consulting Inc.
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