Elaine Yang | January 26th, 2025

Fields of plants and algae may soon do more than capture carbon — they could become sources of renewable fuel, essential medicines, and sustainable materials. This is the vision driving green biotechnology, an area focused on engineering photosynthetic organisms to act as “bioreactors.” Using sunlight as their only energy source, these modified plants and algae produce resources for transportation, healthcare, and manufacturing that traditionally rely on fossil fuels or energy-intensive processes. By developing these living factories, scientists hope to create a more sustainable supply chain, one that meets modern demands with a fraction of the detrimental environmental impact of fossil fuels.

At the core of green biotechnology is the remarkable ability of photosynthetic organisms — such as algae and cyanobacteria — to convert sunlight and carbon dioxide into energy through natural metabolic processes. Scientists in this field harness and enhance these processes by altering the organisms’ genetic makeup, effectively turning them into mini “factories” capable of producing complex compounds. 

For example, genetically modified algae can produce biofuels that replace petroleum, while cyanobacteria engineered to produce pharmaceuticals like insulin are showing promise in medicine. These photosynthetic “bioreactors” are not only sustainable but also cost-effective; they grow in minimal, nutrient-poor environments, needing few resources beyond sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to thrive. This approach reduces dependency on finite resources and offers a viable pathway to producing eco-friendly alternatives to conventional fuels, plastics, and drugs, all while maintaining a small environmental footprint.

The Johnson Lab at Vanderbilt

Dr. Carl Johnson, a leading researcher and Professor of Biological Sciences at Vanderbilt, has recently advanced green biotechnology through pioneering work with cyanobacteria. Together with his team, Johnson modified the daily biological clock of cyanobacteria to significantly boost their production of renewable fuels, pharmaceuticals, and essential chemicals. Cyanobacteria, often referred to as nature’s solar-powered microfactories, have long been recognized for their promise in green biotech. However, their productivity was limited by a natural “snooze button” controlled by their internal circadian rhythms.

The Johnson Lab overcame this challenge by reprogramming the cyanobacteria’s gene expression to run continuously, bypassing the organisms’ circadian repressor elements. This breakthrough allows cyanobacteria to produce vital enzymes and bioproducts, including insulin, around the clock rather than following a typical day-night cycle. By enabling these photosynthetic organisms to operate 24/7, Johnson’s team has unlocked further potential for producing green bioproducts sustainably and efficiently. Their work highlights how genetically altered photosynthetic organisms could serve as “bioreactors” to revolutionize the production of essential resources, offering scalable and sustainable solutions to meet global demands in energy, healthcare, and manufacturing.

Future implications

The future implications of green biotechnology are transformative, promising advancements that could reshape multiple industries and address pressing global challenges. As green biotech technologies continue to develop, the scalability of photosynthetic bioreactors could lead to decentralized production systems, where sustainable fuels, pharmaceuticals, and materials are produced locally. This would reduce the need for extensive supply chains and lower carbon emissions associated with transportation. Additionally, green biotechnology has the potential to support food security by generating bioengineered crops that are not only more resilient to climate change but can also be enriched with essential nutrients. Beyond practical applications, green biotech could play a crucial role in environmental restoration; for example, engineered plants and algae might be designed to actively detoxify polluted environments or restore degraded ecosystems. As these innovations progress, green biotechnology holds the promise of creating a future where sustainable practices are not just a goal, but a fundamental part of global industries and environmental stewardship.

References

Bhatia, S. K., Bhatia, S., Inda-Webb, M. E., Kourmentza, K., Moon, T. S., Singh, V., Ahuja, V., Li, J., Mehariya, S., Walia, A., Diao, J., Han, T., Kumar, J. V., Li, C., Toparlak, O. D., Wu, F., & Zhao, J. (2024). Biotechnology for Sustainable Materials: Innovating Today for a Greener Tomorrow. Biotechnology for Sustainable Materials, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s44316-024-00006-x

Bull, T. (2021, March 30). Green Biotech: Methods of genetic engineering in plants. UC Davis Biotechnology Program. https://biotech.ucdavis.edu/blog/green-biotech-methods-genetic-engineering-plants

Evans, A. (1970, May 13). Vanderbilt scientists develop an algae time machine, advancing biomedicine. Vanderbilt University. https://as.vanderbilt.edu/news/2024/05/13/vanderbilt-scientists-develop-an-algae-time-machine-advancing-biomedicine/

Pande, A. H. (2024, July 25). Biotech offers Bright New Future for the planet. Innovators magazine. https://www.innovatorsmag.com/biotech-offers-colourful-new-antidote-to-human-greed/

Xu, Y., Jabbur, M. L., Mori, T., Young, J. D., & Johnson, C. H. (2024). Clocking out and letting go to unleash green biotech applications in a photosynthetic host. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121(21). https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2318690121