Marine Algae Biofuel Could Be New Energy Source
A breakthrough in the production of biofuel from marine algae could lead to a new ecnomically sustainable form of alternative energy.
Efficient algal biofuel production has long been stalled due to a catch-22 in the way algae grows and stores energy.
The generally microscopic organisms largely produce the lipid oils, or fat molecules that store energy, needed for fuel production when they are nutritionally starved. However, when they are starved, they fail to grow well.
Researchers at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego have developed a way to target a specific enzyme inside a group of algae known as diatoms, metabolically engineering a way to increase lipids without hurting growth.
The resulting genetically altered strains can be produced broadly in other species, the scientists say.