Hacking Photosynthesis

How are humans shaping nature? What is the potential?
Some humans are hoping to shape nature for the better. Scientists are hoping to aid nature in its genetic processes to boost agricultural growth. They are trying to find ways to aid/alter plants’ genetic growth in order to aid photosynthesis. They accomplish this by studying an enzyme in a plant called the Rubisco enzyme. This enzyme’s job is to grab carbon dioxide out of the air in order to convert it into sugar/ glucose. All plant life relies on this enzyme; however, it doesn’t do its job with great efficiency. This Enzyme’s only 80% effective. One in every 5 times the enzyme will take an oxygen molecule instead of a carbon dioxide molecule. This in turn produces toxins for the plant to fight away and isn’t energy efficient for the plant. Scientists today are trying to engineer the rubisco enzyme to have a 100% efficiency rate. They did this by analyzing the genetic traits of plants that thrived in poor condition and hen replanted them. This, in turn, increases the Rubisco enzyme efficiency rate by 40%.

The effects of analyzing, shaping, and aiding nature have many benefits. As we analyze the effects of photosynthesis it can help us develop ways to better the efficiency of solar energy. Solar energy has the potential to become an alternative to oil and carbon-based fuels.