Researchers at Australia’s Macquarie University have genetically modified fruit flies and zebrafish to break down toxic methylmercury into a diluted gas.
Methylmercury is one of the world’s most dangerous pollutants. It is a highly toxic organic form of mercury that is released into the environment via industrial activities such as gold mining and the burning of coal.
It poses health threats to humans and other forms of wildlife due to its high bioavailability. This means that once it has been ingested by a small aquatic organism, for instance, it can easily cross the digestive tract and make its way into the tissue, where it accumulates.
When this creature is eaten by another organism, the mercury becomes increasingly concentrated as it moves up the food chain. Eventually it could pass onto humans, who may eat fish containing a high level of mercury. In humans, increased levels of mercury may damage the nervous system.
Bioremediation methods for methylmercury clean-up have proven to be...