Revista RG News 3 (1) 2017 - Sociedade Brasileira de Recursos Genéticos 70 10. Biotechnological interventions in preserving environment through bioremediation Marines Marli Gniech Karasawa PhD Genetics and Plant Breeding (USP)/Post doc Haploid Technology – Gametic embryogenesis at Palermo University (UNIPA-IT). Previous: Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), State University of São Paulo (USP/ESALQ-SP), Federal University of Lavras (UFLA-MG). Academic Degree: Federal University of Pelotas(UFPEL-RS). Mohan Chakravarthi Postdoctoral Fellow, Dept. of Genetics and Evolution, Federal University of São Carlos, São Paulo. Previous: PhD Biotechnology (Bharathiar University, India). Introduction Environment is an essential component for survival of life. Preserving the environment is imperative to ensure the survival of future generations. However, the list of chemical pollutants released into the environment by human activities is rapidly increasing. The pollutants include petroleum hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, phthalate esters, nitroaromatic compounds, dyes, radionuclides, industrial solvents, pesticides and metals. Biotechnology harnesses cellular and biomolecular processes to develop technologies and products that help improve our lives and the health of our planet. With the advent of biotechnology coupled with the use of plants and microorganisms, the concentration of toxicity in the air, water and environment can be reduced to a greater extent and coined by the term ‘bioremediation’. Bioremediation is described as the process where plants and other organisms are used to clean the soil and the water, seeking to remove the pollutants from environment. Using biotechnology, the hazardous wastes can be degraded or removed from the environment using beneficial microbes and plants that have the ability to accumulate and or degrade such wastes. Using genetic engineering, microorganisms and plants that have the ability to degrade hazardous wastes have been employed successfully and are described in this article. The role of environmental biotechnology needs a special mention as in the recent decades it has played a significant role by integrating plants and microbes to address the issues related to environmental management and sustainable development.