Masters Theses

Date of Award

5-1995

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Life Sciences

Major Professor

Barbara T. Walton

Committee Members

Walter R. Farkas, Peter M. Gresshoff, David C. White

Abstract

The objective of this study is to provide in one article a discussion of the toxicity to humans of a highly chlorinated hydrocarbon compound, tetrachloroethylene (also named perchloroethylene, PCE), plus a discussion of bioremediation methods for chlorinated compounds in situ, along with descriptions of research with genetically engineered microorganisms (GEMs) which have the potential to reduce the degradation rates for PCE and other chlorinated compounds in situ. This study provides a summary of the regulatory control process that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is implementing for control of the field release of GEMs. The fourth major concept that this paper presents is a summary of the Intellectual Property and Patent laws that allow GEMs to be patented by the legal profession, allowing property rights to the owner of a patent for a GEM over a temporary time, to reward the discoverers of unique life forms, and to meet one of the objectives of Article I, § 8, clause 8 of the United States Constitution (1788), "To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries."

The overall conclusion of this thesis is that bioremediation is an effective remediation technology for degradation of chlorinated chemicals in the subsurface zone of contamination, and GEMs have a large potential for utilization at sites to improve the bioremediation process, while inventors of GEMs can be assigned patent rights and can accrue royalty income from the use of the patented GEMs by others. Federal and state regulations require cleanup of contaminated sites using control technology such as bioremediation, while regulations developed by EPA and the National Institute of Health (NIH) provide for review of research projects that are developing GEMs and provide oversight of proposed field demonstrations utilizing GEMs for bioremediation. The goal of EPA's and NIH's review of research with GEMs is that any potential for environmental harm from proposed releases of GEMs will be fully evaluated before approvals are granted, to allow protection of the ecosystem and the public's health from the introduction of combinations of genetic material that are not normally found in nature. This thesis endorses the development of GEMs for bioremediation, while also suggesting that the regulatory oversight groups proceed with caution with blanket approvals for the release of GEMs. Bioremediation that utilizes GEMs holds great promise toward reducing the low levels of risk posed by chlorinated chemicals in relation to human health and ecosystems in close proximity to contaminated sites.

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