Scientists Genetically Increase Algae Biomass by More than 50 Percent

The article discusses a recent breakthrough at Iowa State University, involving the discovery of a genetic method to increase the biomass of algae. The team of researchers was lead by Martin Spalding, pofessor in te Department of Geneis, Development, and Cell Biology and associate dean for research and graduate studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Spalding explained the process as expressing genes in the algae to  increase the photsynthetic carbon conversion into organic matter when in an environment with enough carbon dioxide. In nature, algae's growth is limited due to a lack of carbon dioxide in the air. In environmets with relativly low levels of carbon dioxide, algae expresses two genes that allow the algae to capture more carbon dioxide from the air, then channel it into its' cells to keep it alive and growing. When in carbon dixiode rich environments, these genes shut down. By turning those genes on at the same time, Spalding was able to increase the amount of photosynthesis in the algae by 50- 80% thus producing more biomass. Excess biomass naturally becomes starch, but by using some existing mutated genes, Spalding can instruct the algae to make oil instead of starch. Therefore, this increase in biomass i useful in that it opens up possibilities for more and better biofuel development.