Synthetic biology helps improve the environmental adaptability of specific populations to meet the challenges of climate change## 1. Background As climate change intensifies, the increase in extreme weather events, greater temperature fluctuations, and changes in water resource distribution have brought many challenges to human society. For some specific populations, such as those living in poor areas and climate-vulnerable areas, they may lack the resources and capabilities to cope with climate change and face higher survival risks. As an emerging discipline, synthetic biology provides innovative ideas to solve this problem. ## 2. Objective Design a synthetic biology method to genetically modify specific microorganisms so that they can produce biological products that help improve the environmental adaptability of specific populations to alleviate the negative impact of climate change on their lives and health. ## 3. Specific design plan### 1. Select a suitable microbial chassis 1. **Photosynthetic bacteria** - Select some photosynthetic bacteria that can grow well under different light conditions, such as purple non-sulfur bacteria. These bacteria can use light energy for photosynthesis, converting carbon dioxide and water into organic matter and producing oxygen at the same time. - Its advantage is that it can grow and metabolize autonomously in an environment with sufficient light, without the need for complex energy input, and is suitable for application in some poor areas with a lack of electricity supply. 2. **Probiotics** - Select probiotic strains that are beneficial to human health and can adapt to certain environmental changes, such as Lactobacillus acidophilus. They can regulate the balance of human intestinal microecology, enhance immunity, and help improve intestinal problems that are prone to occur in specific populations under climate change. ### (II) Genetically modified microorganisms 1. **Genetic modification of photosynthetic bacteria** - **Gene introduction to enhance photosynthesis efficiency** - Obtain relevant genes from plants or other microorganisms with efficient photosynthesis capabilities, such as genes encoding light-harvesting complexes. Introduce these genes into the genome of purple non-sulfur bacteria, and use gene editing technologies such as the CRISPR-Cas9 system to accurately integrate foreign genes into specific genomic sites of photosynthetic bacteria. - The expected effect is to improve the efficiency of photosynthetic bacteria in capturing and utilizing light energy, thereby increasing their growth rate and organic matter production. - **Introduction of stress-related genes** - Obtain stress-resistant genes from some microorganisms that adapt to extreme environments, such as genes encoding heat shock proteins or genes related to drought resistance. Introduce these genes into photosynthetic bacteria so that they can maintain a good growth state under adverse conditions caused by climate change such as high temperature and drought. 2. **Gene modification of probiotics** - **Enhanced expression of immunomodulatory genes** - Screen out gene fragments that can enhance immunomodulatory functions from studies related to the human immune system, such as certain cytokine genes. Use gene expression regulation technology to enhance the expression level of these genes in Lactobacillus acidophilus. - The modified Lactobacillus acidophilus can better regulate the human immune system, helping specific populations to improve resistance and reduce the chance of illness during the epidemic season caused by climate change. - **Metabolic adaptability gene introduction** - Introduce some genes that can regulate the metabolism of probiotics to different nutrients, so that they can better adapt to changes in food supply caused by climate change. For example, introduce genes that can utilize specific dietary fiber, so that probiotics can still function well when the variety of food is reduced or changed. ### (III) Construction of biological product production system 1. **Photosynthetic bacteria biological product production** - After the photosynthetic bacteria are cultured in large quantities, the cells are broken by physical or chemical methods to extract the biologically active substances in them. These substances can include photosynthetic pigments, vitamins, antioxidants, etc. - Photosynthetic pigments such as chlorophyll have antioxidant effects and can protect cells from oxidative stress damage, which is of great significance for coping with the increase in environmental oxidative stress caused by climate change. Vitamins can supplement the nutrients that a specific population may lack due to food shortages. 2. **Production of probiotic biological products** - The modified Lactobacillus acidophilus is fermented and cultured on a large scale, and then made into probiotic preparations through freeze-drying and other technologies. - These probiotic preparations can be used as functional foods or health products to provide intestinal health support for specific populations. At the same time, they can also indirectly affect the overall physiological function of the human body by regulating the intestinal flora and improve the ability to adapt to health problems related to climate change. ### (IV) Application and promotion of biological products 1. **Application at the community level** - Small-scale biological product production facilities are established in communities where specific populations live, and photosynthetic bacteria and probiotics are cultivated using local resources (such as sunlight, simple culture medium raw materials, etc.). - The produced biological products are distributed to community residents, and through publicity and education, residents are made to understand their efficacy and use them correctly. For example, photosynthetic bacterial extracts are added to drinking water to supplement nutrients and antioxidants for residents; probiotic preparations are used as daily food additives to improve intestinal health. 2. **Promotion and training** - Organize professionals to train community residents and teach them knowledge and skills about microbial cultivation, use of biological products and simple maintenance of production facilities to achieve self-sustainable development of the community. - At the same time, cooperate with governments, non-governmental organizations, etc. to promote this synthetic biology