Algae and biofuels

Algae and anchor

The complete genetic makeup of a species of ecologically important algae, which may aid in biofuel production, has been sequenced by scientists. This is only the second time that researchers have sequenced the genome of one of these ecologically important algae, known as haptophytes.

University of Washington scientists have sequenced the complete genetic makeup of one of these algae. The haptophytestudied is Chrysochromulina tobin. The organism thrives in oceans across the globe. The researchers spent years on a series of experiments to sequence all of Chrysochromulina's genes and understand how this creature turns different genes on and off throughout the day. In the process, they discovered that Chrysochromulina would make an ideal subject for investigating how algae make fat, a process important for nutrition, ecology and biofuel production.

For further details see:

Blake T. Hovde, Chloe R. Deodato, Heather M. Hunsperger, Scott A. Ryken, Will Yost, Ramesh K. Jha, Johnathan Patterson, Raymond J. Monnat, Steven B. Barlow, Shawn R. Starkenburg, Rose Ann Cattolico.Genome Sequence and Transcriptome Analyses of Chrysochromulina tobin: Metabolic Tools for Enhanced Algal Fitness in the Prominent Order Prymnesiales (Haptophyceae).PLOS Genetics, 2015; 11 (9): e1005469 DOI:10.1371/journal.pgen.1005469



 Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle