| abstract |
Disclosed herein are compositions and methods of evolving microorganisms to adapt oil-degrading marine oligotrophs for high concentrations of oil and improved growth rates. Methods disclosed herein are applicable to a variety of known oil-degraders that specialize in metabolizing compounds from different chemical classes (aliphatics, aromatics, polyaromatic hydrocarbons, asphaltenes) to adopt improved biodegradation properties. An improved biodegradation property includes not only increased growth rate or biodegradation rate, but also increased tolerance to dispersant, other chemicals, or physical parameters (such as pH, salinity, pressure, temperature) that can inhibit the growth of microorganisms. |