Todd Zwillich

Todd Zwillich reports in the following viewpoint that naturally occurring microorganisms have been found eating pollutants at toxic waste sites. However, Zwillich explains that many of these naturally occurring microbes consume waste too slowly to clean up heavily polluted sites such as old nuclear weapons facilities. In consequence, scientists are developing genetically engineered microorganisms that can eat a variety of toxins more quickly. Todd Zwillich writes for Reuters News Service.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to Zwillich, in what ways are researchers taking “a more measured approach” to using microbes for toxic waste cleanup projects?
2. What has kept NABIR from field-testing recombinant bioremediators, as reported by Zwillich?
3. As stated by the author, what problems with naturally occurring microbes have led many researchers to conclude that genetically engineered microorganisms are...