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A novel gene and transgenic cell line enabling technology to enhance algal growth and reduce algal production costs.
About
Growth-Enhancing Gene We have identified a novel gene for incorporation into your algal strain selection or improvement program. Fast-growing algal strain: Transgenic cell line of the marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana (CCMP1335) with over expressed growth-enhancing gene, resulting in accelerated growth. Marine diatoms exhibit a “bloom and bust” life cycle whereby they can rapidly replicate when conditions are favourable. This novel gene is responsible for the mechanism that enables translation of favourable environmental conditions into fast growth, with a phenotype that allows for accelerated growth, which outcompetes commercial wild type strains. A key strategy is to grow commercial production algal strains as fast as possible to obtain high biomass inexpensively and in a short amount of time. Key factors that affect algal growth and metabolism are sunlight, CO2, water, nutrients (e.g. phosphorus, nitrogen and micronutrients such as iron) and temperature. This novel growth-enhancing gene offers the opportunity to grow algae faster without additional nutrients or increased light, providing solutions to companies wishing to develop commercial algal strains with increased yields and reduced algal growth costs. Markets Fuels: Algal systems offer a real alternative to petroleum based transportation fuels in the ethanol, gasoline, biodiesel and aviation fuel markets, an increasing number of ventures are receiving investment to create algae based biocrude oils for petrol refineries. Food: Projected growth in the nutraceutical market will mean that derivatives of algae in the food market will become increasingly valuable, for example for the production of vitamins, essential unsaturated fatty acids (e.g. eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid and other omega-3 fatty acids), amino acids and food supplements. Feed: As global demand for animal protein continues to grow, so too will the market for animal nutrition, due to the the high carbohydrate and high protein content of many algae strains, algae offer a sustainable alternative to animal feed.