Biology Project Abstract
BIOREMEDIATION OF ATRAZINE
Presenter:
Amanda H. Jablonsky, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 West Sullivan Road, Aurora, IL, 60506; monderoi@imsa.edu
Advisor:
Dr. Donald Dosch, Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, 1500 West Sullivan Road, Biology, Aurora, IL, 60506; 630-907-5943; ddosch@imsa.edu
Abstract:
Atrazine is a chemical pesticide known to affect both humans and animals adversely. The goal of this inquiry is to isolate a bacterial strain that metabolizes atrazine. This bacteria can then be used for bioremediation, digesting atrazine and decreasing its impact on the ecosystem. Soil samples were collected from several agricultural fields in Aurora that would typically be treated with atrazine. The samples were cultured on a minimal media containing atrazine as the sole carbon source. Bacteria that grew were isolated from the samples and inoculated onto separate plates, revealing nine different bacterial colony morphologies. High-pressure liquid chromatography testing is done to determine whether each of the bacteria digested the atrazine by detecting the presence of atrazine metabolites in the sample.