A few months ago, in my survey, one of my readers asked what role science has to play in my pursuit of sustainability.
Science has made sustainability much more real to me. I can do my own research on the toxic effects of things like BPA, parabens, and sodium lauryl sulfate, with help from the research databases I have access to at my work. I can understand the microbiology of compost and soil, how it interacts with plants, and why that whole system works so much better than our current one that uses more resources, loses more biodiversity, and is ultimately weaker against predators. Because I’m comfortable working with invisible biological compounds like DNA, RNA, and proteins, I have a better idea of what’s believable and what isn’t.
Much of my research experience has been in bacterial cloning. I work closely with small things like cell cultures, DNA, RNA, and proteins. Each time I perform an experiment, my understanding grows. For example, in one of my experiments, fragments of DNA are ‘cut’ by known restriction enzymes, proteins that recognize certain sequences of DNA and are able to break the bond between nucleic acids. These DNA fragments are then taken up by E. Coli bacteria after a few changes in temperature. After an evening in a warm incubator, I have a petri dish of genetically engineered E. Coli colonies with the new DNA. This is how E. Coli mutates so quickly: when it is stressed out, it takes up foreign DNA very easily.
I can visualize some of the DNA by taking a small sample, purifying the DNA, amplifying it, and running it on a DNA gel. The different fragments are separated by size on the gel, and I can see my DNA as a band under UV light.
All this work with DNA and other biochemical molecules has made them very real to me, very intuitive. It makes learning about the science behind sustainability that much easier. Animals given antibiotics on a daily basis produce superbugs. Why is that? Those antibiotics are exposed to E. Coli, so it freaks out. When it freaks out, like I mentioned above, it takes up foreign DNA very easily. It mutates. And when billions of trillions of E. Coli are freaking out and mutating, every one in a trillion acquires a mutation producing a powerful toxin that can kill people. Essentially, the more antibiotics you give, the faster bacteria and viruses mutate to adapt to their new environment. They will try to one-up human antibiotics, and once they do, we’ll have to start our process of discovering, testing, and producing new antibiotics all over again. The reality is that we are much slower than bacteria and viruses at coming up with new weapons of defense. Our antibiotics can’t penetrate their evolutionary resilience. It becomes something of an arms race, bringing to mind a very non-science, philosophical concept: no one wins in a war of weaponry. Remember the Cold War?
E. Coli
In science, all factors of potential influence, external and internal, must be considered. All possible outcomes must be considered, everything must make sense inside and out. All assertions must be verified. When I’m presented with new information, I test it against what I already know to be true. Does it fit in with everything else I know? I take a look at what research has been conducted, and consider the public health and downstream effects on both the environment and the economy. Of course, when I’m doing my own personal research, I’m not necessarily as detailed and thorough as for work or school. One thing that’s still tough for me is knowing the accuracy of the methods used in a study. I only have an approximate idea of whether the methods are effective, so the greatest verification of the facts is still with my own two eyes. When I see that using Dial soap makes my hands flake over like a stale croissant, and the all-natural, SLS and paraben-free bar soap makes my hands smooth like butter, I know something’s up with those chemicals. I won’t know for certain that parabens causes breast cancer, unless I use myself as a guinea pig. But I prefer not taking any chances. It’s a challenge to make sense of all the information that’s available. I don’t claim to be an expert in any field, but I’d like to share the information I’ve learned.
Aside from understanding the theory, my research experience makes it easier for me to make things on my own. I’ve made many reagents and gels in the past and followed strange protocols, so recipes for homemade cleaners come easily to me. An old co-worker once called the work of making reagents, “cookbook science”, so if you can cook you can probably do science too.
My experience has mainly been in biochemistry, but that doesn’t speak to me very much, unfortunately. I’m most moved by sustainable agriculture, so that’s where I’d like to use my research knowledge. I don’t really know if I’ll stay in research forever, but I think it would better my life both personally and professionally in the long run. Ultimately, I wish to do something beneficial for our food system, and my specific role doesn’t matter too much. So long as I can have ample food, clothing, and shelter, I’m open to anything down the road.
*Photos by shonk, IRRI images
Very interesting! I have a biophysics background myself. What do you think about GMOs?
I’m currently against GMO’s for a number of reasons. I might support them if they were more strictly regulated. But, the current motives behind GMO’s and the way they are managed prove that their primary goal is economic benefit, not improved public health.
1) While GMO’s can be good, most of the time they are not produced for any public health benefit. Frequently the modifications are designed for improved pesticide and disease resistance, meaning ever larger amounts of pesticides are sprayed. Less frequently, GMO’s are also designed for improved nutritional value, drought tolerance, and other survivability traits.
2) We don’t know the wider effects of GMO proteins, and we don’t keep track of them because GMO seed companies don’t want anything traced back to their product. A number of products have caused severe allergies in children and eventually had to be recalled because they were made with GMO’s with no labeling on the package. There could be more widespread effects on the ecosystem at large, but we don’t know about them because no company is forced to test their products so strictly.
3) GMO pollen can contaminate organic, non-GMO crops because pollen can be transported via wind or insects to any other plant.
Interesting, I am most moved by sustainable agriculture too, and have been thinking about how I can parlay my career into one that moves that issue (or any environmental issue, really) forward. The trouble is that I am so far off the mark, as an accountant… Leaping board? I actually have been browsing programs for going back to school. Some of the courses look so awesome and interesting.
Interesting about the E. Coli, makes me glad that I have switched to organic meat, and cut out beef. Eww.
That’s great! I’m sure there’s a place for an accountant in agriculture. Market prices for produce? You should definitely explore any and all options you have. Simply getting to know the sustainable agriculture community can open doors for you. They are a really great group of people. Good luck!
Lynn,
It was fascinating to get this peak into the scientific aspect of your life. It seems so incredible that you do experiments with DNA!
This struck me: “This is how E. Coli mutates so quickly: when it is stressed out, it takes up foreign DNA very easily.”
Does that mean when we get all stressed out, we take up foreign DNA easily too?
I’m very grateful for scientists like you!
Thanks, Sandra! I’m not sure that we do the same when we’re stressed out, but that’s a great thought.
Great post, Lynn! I wish we were educating our kids better. Obviously they aren’t all cut out to become scientists, but it’s so valuable to know how to think critically and use logic and reasoning skills to analyze the statements we’re bombarded with every day by the media. We have a whole population of people forming opinions based on, well, nothing even remotely scientific, and that’s scary. Isn’t this just as important as math class?
Hi Andrea, I wish we were too. Not everyone has to become a scientist, but everyone could definitely benefit from better critical thinking and logical reasoning skills. Our education suffers, I’m pretty sure because uneducated people are more vulnerable and easier to manipulate.
So nice to get a glimpse of your science background Lynn. As you know, I’m with you with respect to GMOs. In their current form they are wreaking havoc on our food system. I, like Sandra, am thankful for your scientific background and approach.
Thanks, Lori! I really enjoyed your post on GMO’s. It can be tough to talk about facts scientifically because people can feel like their personal beliefs about the world are being threatened. I’m not sure how to get around that unfortunately.
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Hi Lynn ~ thanks so much for this post. I’ve been listening to the reports of E. Coli breakouts lately and haven’t really understood why it’s becoming such a problem. This post taught me a lot! Can I ask … how is E. Coli getting into vegetables? Is it the same idea as with animals that vegetables are being grown with some chemical that stresses out the E. Coli cell (which I’m guessing is in everything, just waiting for it’s opportunity)? I really appreciate the work you do and I’m anxious to read more … I know that I’ll learn a lot from you! Thank you!! BTW … I’ve added you to my blog roll so that I won’t miss a thing!
Thanks so much! I really appreciate it! That’s a really good question. I went to check out a few articles, and it looks like the contamination mostly comes from manure that hasn’t been properly composted, or contaminated irrigation water. If there’s a factory farm nearby, that could contaminate the crops. http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09369.html
The other thing is that chemicals kill off ALL microbial activity in the garden. If you have an abundance of biodiversity, then the good bugs are competing with the bad bugs and don’t let them gain any power. So if you’re killing off the good bugs too with chemicals, then you’re stripping your crops of their natural defense.