Navigation Links
Stacking traits in algae is focus of grant to Iowa State University researcher
Date:2/22/2010

AMES, Iowa - 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 hopes to change that.

With the help of a $4.37 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Spalding intends to develop a micro-algal platform that will allow micro-algae to be treated as a crop.

Spalding, professor and chair of genetics, development and cell biology and a council member of Iowa State's Plant Sciences Institute, is working with the one type of alga, Chlamydomonas, that is already genetically mapped.

Martin Spalding is working on stacking traits in Chlamydomonas algae.

"We have a sequenced genome, we understand the metabolism, and we have the tools available to us to work with this alga," he said.

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.

"Rather than look for an alga that produces trait 'x' or trait 'y' and then trying
'/>"/>

Contact: Dan Kuester
kuester@iastate.edu
515-294-0704
Iowa State University
Source:Eurekalert  

0

GOOD

Page: 1 2

Related biology news :

1. DHS Expands Biometrics-at-Sea Program to the Florida Straits
2. At Boston symposium, NARSAD researchers report on genes and family traits
3. DNA study unlocks mystery to diverse traits in dogs
4. Traits produced by melanin may signal the bearers capacity to combat free radicals
5. UC San Diego researchers use metagene portraits to reveal distinct stages of kidney formation
6. Patient-derived induced stem cells retain disease traits
7. Sugar, spice and puppy dog tails: Developing sex-typed personality traits and interests
8. Scientists devise efficient way of learning about complex corn traits
9. Seabed biodiversity of the Straits of Magellan and Drake Passage
10. Study involving more than 100 scientists provides new insights on green algae
11. Green algae -- the nexus of plant/animal ancestry
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
Related Image:
Stacking traits in algae is focus of grant to Iowa State University researcher
(Date:5/23/2013)... Frontiers, one of the world,s largest and fastest ... new journal, Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology ... all specialties, Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology ... diverse and emerging bioengineering and biotechnology research to ... in Bioengineering and Biotechnology will provide an ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... 22, 2013 U.S. Forest Service scientists are part ... funding from the TKF Foundation, will examine how collaborative ... individuals recover from tragedy. , The TKF Foundation announced ... projects selected for grant funding. In addition to research ... in recovery and resiliency, the 3-year, $585,000 grant will ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... developed a novel technique that can detect molecular variants ... is one of the most important, though time-consuming, processes ... paper in Nature , post-doctoral researcher David Patterson, ... of the Center for Free-Electron Laser Science (CFEL) in ... microwave fields to identify molecular variants apart, and to ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Frontiers launches new open-access journal in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 2'Landscapes of Resilience' to study how people use nature as a source of recovery 2Detecting mirror molecules 2Detecting mirror molecules 3
... and researchers at John Theurer Cancer Center at HackensackUMC, one ... latest findings in blood-cancer research at the 2012 American Society ... 1-5. Their involvement in these studies is part of John ... "We are proud to make a contribution ...
... According to a new study, children exposed to ... at increased risk for chromosomal aberrations (CAs), which have ... a potentially more harmful and long-lasting subtype of CAs. ... Health (CCCEH) at the Mailman School of Public Health, ...
... Therapeutics Centre (ETC) under the Agency for Science and Technology ... has enabled the successful development of the most comprehensive and ... this highly advanced kit, doctors can now rapidly detect all ... with almost 100% accuracy, within a few hours. This is ...
Cached Biology News:John Theurer Cancer Center presents significant blood cancer research at 2012 ASCO Annual Meeting 2Children exposed to the common pollutant naphthalene show signs of chromosomal damage 2Children exposed to the common pollutant naphthalene show signs of chromosomal damage 3Made-in-Singapore H5N1 diagnostic kit -- detects all known strains of H5N1 virus with a single test 2Made-in-Singapore H5N1 diagnostic kit -- detects all known strains of H5N1 virus with a single test 3
(Date:5/23/2013)... Patheon Inc ., a leading ... global pharmaceutical industry, will host a complimentary webinar on ... on Tuesday, June 4, 2013 at 11 a.m. Eastern ... to comply with regulations for cleaning validation. Many ... underpinning and little evaluation of risk. Some companies ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... 23, 2013 The maker community is ... of inventions. They focus on learning practical skills while ... gravitate toward bringing their ideas to life via crowdfunding. ... works on making projects using biology. Glowing Plant has ... to make them glow with bioluminescence genes, and has ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... , May 23, 2013  Saddleback Memorial Medical ... recently became the first hospital on the West Coast ... This new surgical option provides women with a state-of-the-art, ... Marc Winter , M.D., a highly ... surgeon and medical director of minimally invasive surgery at ...
(Date:5/23/2013)... May 23, 2013 On April 19th ... to supermarkets to search for the growing antibiotic resistant ... Results from a year long study were released late ... foods, specifically meats, over previous years. For those suffering ... growth of antibiotic resistant bacteria in food, may eventually ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Patheon to Present on “Cleaning Validation: Science, Risk and Novel Approaches to Testing” 2Glowing Plant Releases Maker Kit, Enabling Anyone to Make a Glowing Plant at Home 2Saddleback Memorial Surgeon First on the West Coast to Perform Single-Site Robotic Hysterectomy 2Saddleback Memorial Surgeon First on the West Coast to Perform Single-Site Robotic Hysterectomy 3Acne Cream, Probiotic Action Shares News on How Some Food may Breed Acne Causing Bacteria 2
... Arena Pharmaceuticals,Inc. (Nasdaq: ARNA ) today announced ... of,the inaugural companies in the new NASDAQ(R) NeuroInsights(R) ... an index designed to track,the performance of selected ... three major U.S. stock exchanges. The NASDAQ NeuroInsights,Neurotech ...
... MacroGenics, Inc. announced,today that Mr. Jeffrey H. Buchalter ... of Directors. With more than 20 years of ... and,biotechnology industry, Mr. Buchalter is well poised to ... company matures toward,commercializing its pipeline. "We are ...
... York, September 26 XTL,Biopharmaceuticals Ltd. (NASDAQ: ... on September 24, 2007, the Company received a ... comply with the minimum,$10 million shareholders, equity requirement ... set forth in Marketplace Rule 4450(a)(3), and that,its ...
Cached Biology Technology:Arena Pharmaceuticals Selected to Join New NASDAQ NeuroInsights Neurotech Index 2Arena Pharmaceuticals Selected to Join New NASDAQ NeuroInsights Neurotech Index 3Jeffrey H. Buchalter Joins MacroGenics Board of Directors as Chairman 2Jeffrey H. Buchalter Joins MacroGenics Board of Directors as Chairman 3XTL to Appeal NASDAQ Staff Determination; XTL May Transfer its ADR Listing to the NASDAQ Capital Market 2XTL to Appeal NASDAQ Staff Determination; XTL May Transfer its ADR Listing to the NASDAQ Capital Market 3
... --- a cocktail of 3 siRNAs specifically ... our most popular product. The siTrio reagent ... of your target gene when used under ... and confirmation of optimal transfection with one ...
... siTrio siRNA --- a cocktail of ... gene of interestis our most popular product. ... than 75% knockdown of your target gene ... siRNA for transfection and confirmation of optimal ...
... siTrio siRNA --- a cocktail of 3 ... of interestis our most popular product. The ... 75% knockdown of your target gene when ... for transfection and confirmation of optimal transfection ...
... siTrio siRNA --- a cocktail of ... gene of interestis our most popular product. ... than 75% knockdown of your target gene ... siRNA for transfection and confirmation of optimal ...
Biology Products: