INNOVATION May-June 2017

Genomics tools help researchers in pioneering mine projects to identify which microbe species help and which microbe species hinder removal of metals and sulphates from mine tailings water and affected sites. P hotos : ( above ) courtesy of D r . S. B aldwin , P.E ng .; ( top left ) bacterial biofilm on sand, L ewis L ab at N ortheastern U niversity ; created by A nthony D'O nofrio , W illiam H. F owle , E ric J. S tewart , K im L ewis cc by 2.0; ( bottom left ) bacteria isolated from poplar tree root system, US D epartment of E nergy , O ak R idge N ational L aboratory

to funding genomics research and expanding its applications. “It’s not that we have a hammer and are looking for a nail. There are a lot of issues out there that we need answers to because we never had the technologies or opportunity to go into it.”

economic benefits and productivity gains this provides. “Genomics really is a problem- solving tool,” says Dr. Anikó Takács- Cox, mining, energy and environment sector manager at Genome BC, one of six groups across Canada devoted

everything from the bacteria and microorganisms in the rocks and water to the plants and animals essential to mine site rehabilitation. Genomics helps mining practitioners to see how these organisms interact with their environments and to realize the

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