Biotechnology Applications

NASA Research & Development

Microbial Fuel Cells

Serve as the biological core of systems that treat wastewater while simultaneously generating electricity, providing dual environmental and energy benefits.

Bioremediation

Metal-transforming abilities make them valuable for environmental cleanup, helping immobilize toxic heavy metals like uranium, chromium, and cobalt in contaminated sites.

Synthetic Biology

Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 serves as a model organism for engineering enhanced electron transfer capabilities and specialized bio-sensing functions.

Sustainable Production

Engineered strains enable sustainable chemical production processes, reducing reliance on traditional energy-intensive manufacturing methods.

Model Organism: Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 has become the gold standard for microbial electrochemistry research, with well-characterized genetics enabling precise engineering for enhanced performance in various applications.

🧬 NASA Biotechnology Research

🔬 Genetic Engineering

NASA researchers are developing genetically modified Shewanella strains with enhanced electron transfer capabilities for space applications.

🧪 Synthetic Biology

Advanced synthetic biology approaches are being used to create custom metabolic pathways for specific space mission requirements.

🔬 Bio-sensing

Shewanella-based biosensors are being developed for environmental monitoring in space habitats and planetary surfaces.

Environmental Applications

Wastewater Treatment:
Simultaneous electricity generation and water purification
Heavy Metal Cleanup:
Bioremediation of contaminated industrial sites
Carbon Capture:
Utilization of CO₂ in bioelectric processes
Space Waste Management:
Closed-loop systems for long-duration missions