Sequencing Slime
News from the Green Alga Genome Project: 
"DOE JGI's particular interest in Chlamy [algae] centers on its keen ability to efficiently capture and convert sunlight into energy, and its role in managing the global pool of carbon," said Rokhsar [the Dept of Energy Joint Genome Institute Computational Biology Program head]. The sequence analysis presents a comprehensive set of genes--the molecular and biochemical instructions--required for these capabilities. Rokhsar said that with these data now publicly available, new strategies for biology-based solar energy capture, carbon assimilation, and detoxification of soils by employing algae to remove heavy metal contaminants will begin to surface. The analysis will also shed light on the capabilities of related algae that can produce biodiesel and biocrude as alternatives to fossil fuels.Sounds good. Just wish I understood it.
2 Comments:
The situation regarding algae needn’t be so baffling: not if we simply look to nature for instruction. Fertilizer runoff from the Mississippi River alone, which creates a bloom the size of New Jersey every year in the Gulf of Mexico (one of many such worldwide), is illustrative and several scenarios for its exploitation spring to mind. Similarly, the effluent from virtually any major US city (especially one located in the sunbelt) could be used to induce large-scale algal growth. Aside from sun-drying, the algae would require no processing to serve as biofuel either; direct burning in a power plant as carbon neutral, “green coal” is possible.
Thomas N. Sullivan
Thanks Thomas.
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