Stacking Traits in Algae is Focus of Grant to Iowa State University Researcher
Genetically stacking traits in corn in order to increase production, resist insects, improve standablity and many other characteristics is so common in agriculture that producers have come to expect it.
Some traits found in corn help it function as a better source for biofuels.
Lately, biofuels research has included a focus on using algae as a source for biofuels.
The problem is no one really understands the genomes of most algae well enough to consider the possibility of stacking traits to make them produce more oil, offer better thermal resistance or any of the other characteristics needed.
Martin Spalding, professor and chair of genetics, development and cell biology and a council member of Iowa State’s Plant Sciences Institute, hopes to change that.
…Currently, the micro-algae used in biofuels production are wild strains found in nature and have certain traits that growers like, such as high oil production.
“Using those algae is a good strategy,” Spalding said. “But the limitation with that strategy is that it has no flexibility, because the algae can’t be manipulated genetically.
“The advantage of using a genetically flexible alga like Chlamydomonas is that we can manipulate it in various ways to tailor it to what the needs are,” he said. READ MORE
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- University of Nebraska-Lincoln Hopes to Tap Into Algae as Energy Source
- Penn State Researcher Studying Ways to Handle Huge Quantities of Biomass
- DOE Intends to Develop Drop-In Advanced Biofuels: Focus on Algae
- NC State Receives $2 Million for Algae Research
