Directed evolution – A PETase project

Plastics are a modern miracle of science that have helped deliver both convenience and life-saving solutions. However, we must now grapple with the challenge of immense amounts of plastics in our waste streams and environment. How do we best deconstruct plastics to reusable or more bio-friendly molecules? This is the exact challenge being addressed by the work of Dr. Elizabeth (Izzy) Bell and her team at the National Renewable Energy Lab.

Our conversation with Izzy showcases her ability to summarize complex topics very concisely and understandably, which she says is a skill that is critically important in her field because it’s so interdisciplinary. Izzy summarizes the challenges they’re working to address and then walks us through the stepwise processes she and her team use to conduct directed evolution studies. These studies aim to create and characterize enzymes capable of deconstructing common plastics, first at a laboratory scale, but eventually at an industrial scale. If you’ve ever wondered about how directed evolution studies are done, and the role that molecular biology plays with them, this conversation will be sure to clarify.

In addition to the great science of this episode, Izzy also helps outline what it takes to get into and be successful in her field – a great resource for anyone aspiring to get into this area of research. We hear about how interdisciplinary the field is, but how that means it’s also ripe with opportunity for those passionate about learning and making a difference. Join us for what is sure to be an informative and inspiring episode!

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