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Problem Statement Repository

Surfacing actionable problems

Problem Statement Repository

Surfacing actionable problems

Communicating problems and supporting solutions

The Problem Statement Repository is a curated set of community-generated problem statements designed to connect big challenges in climate change to actionable goals addressable through biotechnology.

We support solutions. Problem statements can be directly used in applications to Garden Grants.

Want to share a problem? Reach out to paul@homeworld.bio.

Protein engineering Methane Greenhouse gas removal
Cell-free methane oxidation without reductant input
A cell-free system should be developed to oxidize methane without the input of additional small-molecule reductants or cofactors.
by Paul Reginato, Chris Eiben, James Weltz, and Paige Brocidiacono
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Methane Greenhouse gas removal
Design and modeling of dilute methane oxidation bioreactors to guide bioengineering
Possible designs for bioreactors that oxidize dilute methane for warming mitigation must be proposed and analyzed to assess feasibility and provide guidance for engineering
by Paul Reginato, Mary Lidstrom, Jeremy Semrau, Jessica Swanson, Lisa Stein, Wenyu Gu, Mark Hansen, Paige Brocidiacono, Ariana Caiati, and Erin Wilson
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Protein engineering Methane Greenhouse gas removal
Genetic tools for methanotrophs to manipulate particulate methane monooxygenase
Methods must be developed to enable study and engineering of pMMO, the most ubiquitous methane-oxidizing enzyme.
by Paul Reginato, Calvin Henard, Mary Lidstrom, Jeremy Semrau, Jessica Swanson, Wenyu Gu, Lisa Stein, James Weltz, Mark Hansen, Paige Brocidiacono, Ariana Caiati, and Erin Wilson
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Protein Engineering Methane Greenhouse gas removal
Discover or engineer efficient soluble methane monooxygenase
sMMO is the most tractable methane-oxidizing enzyme, and we should be engineering it to mitigate atmospheric methane and area emissions.
by Paul Reginato, Lisa Stein, Mary Lidstrom, Jeremy Semrau, Jessica Swanson, Wenyu Gu, Noah Helman, James Weltz, Mark Hansen, Paige Brocidiocono, Ariana Caiati, and Erin Wilson
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Protein engineering Bioplastics
Assay for monomer incorporation by polyester synthase to enable bioplastics engineering
Develop an assay to enable enzyme engineering for improved bioplastics that reduce the need for fossil fuels.
by Nils Averesch, Paul Reginato
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Protein engineering Agriculture
De novo nitrogenase to facilitate engineered nitrogen fixation in plants
Reduce fertilizer emissions by engineering plants to self-fix nitrogen.
by Steven Singer, Paul Reginato, and Ariana Caiati
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Protein engineering Bioplastics
Polyester synthase for novel bioplastics with tunable properties
Enzyme engineering to synthesize improved bioplastics that reduce the need for fossil fuels.
by Nils Averesch, Paul Reginato, and Ariana Caiati
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Protein engineering Greenhouse gas removal
Lower the Km of carbonic anhydrase
Engineer enzymes to boost CO2 absorption rates for enhanced carbon capture efficiency.
by Paul Reginato, Sonja Salmon, and Ariana Caiati
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Protein engineering Greenhouse gas removal
Develop ultrastable carbonic anhydrase for DAC and PSC
Engineer a more stable enzyme to reduce costs and energy use in direct air and point-source CO2 removal processes.
by Paul Reginato
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Protein engineering Greenhouse gas removal
Assay for CO2 mass transfer rates in small solvent volumes to enable enzyme-enhanced DAC and PSC
Develop a novel method to measure CO2 exchange rates in small solvent volumes to enable breakthroughs in enzyme-enhanced DAC and point-source capture.
by Paul Reginato
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Protein engineering Greenhouse gas removal
Techno-economic analysis to guide development of bio-enhanced DAC
Techno-economic analysis to pinpoint the optimal integration of carbonic anhydrase in DAC technology.
by Paul Reginato
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