Log in
Sign up for FREE
arrow_back
Library

Mutant enzyme eats plastic

star
star
star
star
star
Last updated almost 8 years ago
18 questions
Note from the author:
Students read an article in TheGuardian and answer questions about a mutant enzyme accidently discovered which could eventually help reduce plastic waste by breaking down the plastic into it's original components.
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
Please read the article found at this URL:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/16/scientists-accidentally-create-mutant-enzyme-that-eats-plastic-bottles
and answer the questions below. Thanks. Live long and prosper.
Question 1
1.

From which website was this article taken?

Question 2
2.

What was created by the scientists?

Question 3
3.

What does the new discovery do?

Question 4
4.

What type of organism was discovered in 2016? What was it's special super power?

Question 5
5.

What type of molecule in the bacteria had been mutated?

Question 6
6.

What does PET stand for, in the context of this article?

Question 7
7.

What did the scientists 'accidentally' do to the enzyme?

Question 8
8.

How long does the mutant enzyme take to start breaking down plastic?

Question 9
9.

What will the enzyme do to the plastic (be more specific than 'break it down')?

Question 10
10.

At what rate are plastic bottles sold each minute world wide?

Question 11
11.

How much of it is recycled?

Question 12
12.

What does 'resistant to degradation' mean within the context of this article?

Question 13
13.

Currently what are recycled plastic bottles turned into?

Question 14
14.

Where did scientists find the new enzyme?

Question 15
15.

What is special about Diamond Light Source?

Question 16
16.

What is cutin?

Question 17
17.

Where are scientist thinking about transplanting the mutant enzyme into?

Question 18
18.

What caution did Professor Azapagic state at the end of the article?