Question

Bioremediation is _____. See Concept 27.6 (Page 587)

the use of prokaryotes in producing transgenic organisms
the use of prokaryotes in producing pharmaceutical products
the use of organisms to remove pollutants from the environment
the use of biological processes to remedy diseases
the modification of prokaryotes for industrial purposes

Answer 1

Bioremediation is the use of organisms, particularly prokaryotes, to remove or neutralize pollutants in the environment. It is widely used in cleaning up oil spills and treating industrial contaminants like toxic metals and agricultural chemicals.

Step-by-step explanation:

Bioremediation is the use of organisms to remove pollutants from the environment. This process mainly utilizes prokaryotes, or their metabolic abilities, to degrade or transform hazardous substances into less toxic or non-toxic forms.

One of the quintessential applications of bioremediation is the treatment of oil spills. Prokaryotes like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Alcanivorax borkumensis are involved in breaking down the hydrocarbons into less harmful compounds. These organisms can either be naturally present at a site or may be introduced through bioaugmentation to speed up the cleanup process.

The scope of bioremediation extends to dealing with various pollutants including agricultural chemicals that seep into groundwater, as well as toxic metals like selenium and mercury. Significantly, some bacteria have the capability to transform toxic mercury into a non-toxic state, exemplifying the effectiveness of bioremediation techniques.