Scientists ‘accidentally’ create plastic-eating enzyme

Scientists in Britain have “accidentally” created a mutant enzyme capable of breaking down plastic drinks bottles, which could be used to help tackle the planet’s pollution problem.

The breakthrough follows studies done on bacteria that had naturally evolved and was found feeding on plastic at a waste dump in Japan in 2016.

University of Portsmouth biologist Professor John McGeehan and his colleagues were attempting to verify the claim when they “accidentally created a super-powered version of the plastic-eating enzyme”, The Independent reports.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Sign up

“Serendipity often plays a significant role in fundamental scientific research and our discovery here is no exception,” McGeehan said.

According to The Daily Telegraph, the breakthrough was the result of “X-ray experiments” which caused the enzyme, dubbed PETase, to mutate, giving it a “supercharged ability to break down polyethylene terephthalate (PET)”, a popular plastic used by drink manufacturers.