Antarctic Bacteria's Rapid Evolution in Plastic Degradation

In a remarkable discovery, researchers have identified a bacterial strain called Pseudomonas antarcticola in Antarctic waters that has evolved the ability to metabolize PET plastic. This adaptation occurred just 70 years after mass plastic production began, representing one of the fastest documented cases of evolutionary adaptation. The bacteria employ a unique three-enzyme cascade system that functions efficiently in near-freezing temperatures, likely repurposed from enzymes originally used to break down algal cell walls. About 0.3% of bacterial communities in the Antarctic Peninsula now contain plastic-degrading enzymes—a 300-fold increase since 1980. This discovery has significant biotechnology potential, with companies already developing industrial applications that could process plastic more efficiently than current recycling methods. While this represents nature's resilience and adaptability, scientists caution that these microbial solutions alone cannot solve our plastic pollution crisis, and the ecological consequences of these evolutionary developments remain uncertain.

https://www.ihadnoclue.com/article/1100448517774704641