[Save] ESI Seminar - Tuesday April 13 - 12 Noon

[Matthew Gardner]

Earth System Initiative Seminar

Tuesday April 13, 12 Noon, 68-181

"Cleaning up with Genomics:  Applying Systems Biology to Bioremediation and 
Energy Harvesting with Geobacter"

Professor Derek Lovley
University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Geobacter species have the ability to conserve energy to support growth by 
coupling the oxidation of organic compounds to the reduction of insoluble, 
extracellular electron acceptors such as Fe(III) oxides and 
electrodes.  Geobacters are important natural inhabitants of many 
sedimentary environments, but are also useful agents for the bioremediation 
of subsurface environments contaminated with organic compounds or 
radioactive metals.  They can also be used to convert waste organic matter 
to electricity.  Sequencing of the genomes of several pure cultures of 
Geobacters as well as as-yet-uncultured Geobacters from the subsurface 
coupled with functional genomic studies and in silico modeling of Geobacter 
physiology is leading to a better understanding of the functioning of 
Geobacters in diverse environments and helping to optimize bioremediation 
and energy harvesting with these organisms.

Lunch will be provided.


Matthew Gardner, Ph.D.
Program Administrator
Earth System Initiative, 16-177
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA, 02139
617.253.6895
http://web.mit.edu/esi
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