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Applications, challenges, and needs for employing synthetic biology beyond the lab | Nature Communications

^ The AI ended up finding my co-worker Sierra’s paper!

Based on the search results, there is some relevant information about PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) research and alternatives:

GreenLab and Ginkgo Bioworks are collaborating to develop a novel enzyme for breaking down PFAS⁠1⁠. This project aims to discover and develop an enzyme that can degrade these "forever chemicals," which are known for their persistence in the environment⁠1⁠.

PFAS are associated with various health risks, including cancer, reproductive issues, and immune system problems⁠1⁠.

Currently, there is no known commercial process for degrading PFAS, making this research potentially groundbreaking⁠1⁠.

The approach involves using Ginkgo's Enzyme Services to conduct a metagenomic discovery campaign and employ advanced screening methods to identify enzymes with the desired PFAS-degrading activity⁠1⁠.

Allonnia, another company, is also working on biological solutions for PFAS degradation and has introduced a PFAS separation and concentration solution⁠1⁠.

This research represents a promising direction in addressing the PFAS problem through biotechnology and enzyme engineering.

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