This poster presents a theoretical approach to a potential solution to the reduction of the greenhouse effect by reducing atmospheric methane. By utilizing the DNA found in methanotrophs, a special kind of bacteria that consumes methane, and splicing it into the DNA of the Quaking Aspen, there could theoretically be a decrease in atmospheric methane levels. This was created as part of a course observing applications of biotechnology at Worcester Polytechnic Institute

1. Grazing on the Greenhouse
Ryan Bowe, Section 3, Ecology
Introduction
References
Background
Research Methods
Research Methods cont… Potential ProblemsDiscussion/Outcome
Objective
• To utilize the genes responsible for methane
consumption in certain prokaryotes to help
reduce methane levels and combat global
temperature changes by inserting them into
the chloroplast DNA of the Quaking Aspen
• Methane is a
greenhouse
gas that
accounts for
11% of U.S.
emissions and
thus will
eventually
cause
significant
atmospheric
damage
A special genus of Archaebacteria,
Methylomirabilis, consumes
Methane (with nitrates as an
oxidizer) as its main energy source.
Discovered in 2010, M. oxyfera
was found to produce Oxygen and
Nitrogen, providing a novel
technique of respiration
M. oxyfera
Mascarelli, Amanda Leigh. “Methane-Eating
Microbes Make Their Own
Oxygen.” Nature News, Nature
Publishing Group, 24 Mar. 2010.
“Greenhouse Gas Inventory Data
Explorer.” EPA, Environmental
Protection Agency, 17 Jan. 2017,
Voiland, Adam. “Methane Matters : Feature
Articles.” NASA, NASA, 8 Mar. 2016,
earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/M
ethaneMatters/.
Krempels, Dana. “Chimeric DNA.” Introduction
to Biotechnology, University of Miami,
www.bio.miami.edu/dana/250/250S12_
10print.html.
Buck, Joshua R, and Samuel B St. Clair.
“Aspen Increase Soil Moisture,
Nutrients, Organic Matter and
Respiration in Rocky Mountain Forest
Communities.” PLOS One, Public
Library of Science, 17 Dec. 2012
Sanderson, Katharine. “Trees Eat Pollution
Products.” Nature News, Nature
Publishing Group, 18 Aug. 2008
“Quaking Aspen.” Quaking Aspen Tree on the
Tree Guide at Arborday.org, Arbor Day
Foundation.
Sadava, David E., et al. Life: The Science of
Biology. 10th ed., vol. 1 3, Freeman,
2017.
• Methane is significantly more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas, trapping
84-87 times more heat than CO2 over a 20 year period.
• Populus tremuloides or the Quaking Aspen, has been observed absorbing nearly twice
as many organic nitrates as other plants native to the same biome.
• M. oyxfera reduces nitric oxide to nitrogen and oxygen gases. The nitrogen is eventually
expelled from the organism along with some of the oxygen, while the rest of the oxygen
is used to oxidize methane, producing CO2 and Water.
• 26 genes regulate the denitrification and
Methane oxidation processes. The genes
can be extracted and using DNA
Recombination, can be inserted into the
DNA of P. tremuloides.
P. tremuloides has the largest range of any tree
in North America
Nitrogen Gas Production versus
Methane Consumption in M. oxyfera
Expression Vector Process
Using Expression vectors, the M. oxyfera
genes can be given proper eukaryotic
translation elements including a promoter
region such as a TATA box and a poly A
signal. Thus, it will function as a
Eukaryotic gene when inserted into P.
Tremuloides.
Over-Fertilization: the
result of increased
Nitrogen production
eventually kills plants
5CH4 + 8NO3
−
+ 8H+
𝟓𝐂𝐎 𝟐 + 4N2 + 14H2O
Additional Carbon Dioxide Production
resulting from the oxidation of Methane
If efficient
enough, this
process could
potentially
impede
photosynthesis in
the Quaking Aspen, reducing Oxygen output
Assuming this process works, it could drastically aid in
the removal of methane from the atmosphere, cutting
temperature rise levels by a significant amount.
Since methane
use is on the rise
with the increasing
popularity of
natural gas, this
process is even
more helpful,and
could serve as a
primary method of
combatting
atmospheric
methane
Methane as a part of total emissions
Natural Methane sources and
sinks
Yellow:
most
able to
grow
Purple:
least
able to
grow
Global Methane Concentrations
Blue- less concentrated
Red- more concentrated
North America has some of the most
concentrated methane levels